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Sunday, October 15, 2006
THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE:
Now, Dirty Dancing was a big part of my life in the late 80s/early 90s. I was darn near obsessed with that film, the music and the message at the heart of it. It represented to me a world where people were able to discover themselves and express themselves how they desired. Watching it at a much older age, I realised it wasn't as idealistic a world as I first thought and that with every action comes a consequence. But still, the film is one of my favourites so I just knew that I had to go and see the stage version that is on previews in London this very week...
And I'm glad I did as it was one of the most thrilling, spine tingling, emotional visits to the theatre I've had in a long time. I think along with Wicked and The History Boys, I've had a trio of amazing theatre visits that will stay with me for a long time. The joy of the musical version of this film is that it is pretty much transferred word for word, step for step to the stage - with some scenes expanded and some more character development for some of the bit parts. You might think that lacks creativity or spark, but what it achieves is bringing the audience into the experience in a way the film couldn't achieve. The theatre practically crackled with anticipation as fans waited for some of their favourite lines:
- i carried a watermelon
- and most of all i'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling again the way I feel when i'm with you
- nobody puts Baby in the corner...
~ the stage set - the design team did an amazing job of recreating the scenes from the movie (the log where Baby and Johnny practice their balance; the water where they practice their lifts; the bridge where Baby gets her steps wrong during the Wipeout song...)~ the choreography was as thrilling as it is in the film. I loved how everything was choreographed in this from the way the waiters put the plates on the table to how the cast move when not dancing. It may not seem a huge thing but it really enhanced the stage experience...
~ the cast! Josef Brown (surely the love child of Patrick Swayze and Richard Gere) was great as Johnny (and had a ridiculously toned body that had several girls baking cream pies in their pants) while Georgina Rich as Baby did an amazing job of making the role her own. My fave by far though was Nadia Coote as Penny. Such an amazing dancer and incredibly pretty - the stage practically combusted every time she was on it...
~ the character of neil - the hotel managers grandson - was expanded and made imminently more likeable as he battles his desire to please his grandfather and the effect Baby has on him to go on a freedom rally and change the world. Quite lovely...
~ the sexual tension - when Baby has her first "dirty dance" with Johnny in the staff quarters, you can almost see the moment of sexual awakening on Georgina Rich's face. The actress did an amazing job of conveying nervousness, giddy fun and a strange glow all in one nuanced look. Stunning. Similarly, the hungry eyes song by Eric Carmen (surely a great christmas cover for Shayne Ward??) where Penny assists Johnny and Baby with the dance moves becomes an almost embarrassing to watch sexual hotpot of threesomey goodness.
~ the final song - of course Time Of Your Life is going to be the main highlight. But it's how good it is on the stage that is the shocker. The dance moves are exactly the same and carried out with amazing precision. The theatre was so alive and the audience were literally part of the song, a kellermans audience willing their favourite new couple onto greater things...
So I guess overall I liked it:)
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