When I heard Dirty Dancing was coming to the Birmingham Hippodrome I couldn’t quite contain my excitement, after all it’s one of my all-time favourite chick-flicks.
It’s a movie that every young girl watches and dreams of falling in love… but would a stage play have the same sort of impact? Well, I was about to find out!
A lot of movies that are later developed into stage shows lack the same essence as the on-screen portrayal and I was worried that this show would be the same. I wondered if the title characters would have the same impact as they do on-screen and if the story would pull at the old heart strings… but it so did, and brilliantly at that.
Dirty Dancing was entertaining and truly captivating. Telling the story of two unlikely lovers, Johnny & Baby, the theatre production told the unlikely love story with sheer perfection.
Johnny, played by Paul-Michael Jones, was portrayed excellently. I must admit, it’s rather a tough task to play the character in the same vein as Patrick Swayze’s screen version but Paul did a fine job. He had the same trademark cocky attitude and oozed with equal appeal.
What must also be commended is the acting of Jill Winternitz as Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman. She played the character with perfection in every way. Her voice projection, body language and even that famous nervous ‘Baby’ dancing style was immaculate. I was so impressed by Jill’s acting and for me that has to be one of the most praised aspects of Dirty Dancing.
The choreography and dancing was also very entertaining. The whole team of dancers had great synergy and lit up the stage instantly. The dance routines were very fitting to the scenes, not every theatre production developed from a popular movie does it right, but I have to admit this one did it flawlessly.
Alongside all its musical numbers, the highlight of the show for me had to be the finale scene with that classic infamous song, which had the whole theatre lapping up the moment.
VERDICT: Overall, it was a fantastic show and highly recommended. I would definitely go and see it again myself. I really did have the time of my life!
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Reena Combo
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Dirty Dancing is showing at the Birmingham Hippodrome until 25th August, 2012. Tickets for Dirty Dancing are priced from £20-£55 and are available on 0844 338 5000 or you can choose and book tickets online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com.
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