Should there be a spike in the birth-rate in North Staffordshire next spring, it could all be down to the latest offering from the Regent Theatre stage. The largely female audience for the production of Dirty Dancing certainly approved of the steamy antics of Johnny and his Baby and left the theatre having had the time of their lives.
Very faithful to the 1987 film that had the pairing of Patrick Swayzee and Jennifer Grey in the starring roles, this production has had a hit run in the West End as well as a lengthy tour of the UK but retains all the vim and vigour that the audience was looking for.
Based on true experiences by the author, the show tells the tale of the Houseman family – Jake (Jack Loy) and his wife Marjorie (Taryn Sudding) and their two daughters Lisa (Daisy Steere) and Frances “Baby”(Kira Malou) – who spend a summer vacation at an upmarket holiday resort.
The holiday is a reward from the owner Max Kellerman (Mark Mc Kerracher) whose life was saved by successful cardiac surgery by Dr Jake and the family believe that with its wholesome approach to life and its sessions of Simon Says and hula-hooping it will be the perfect family retreat.
Unfortunately, there is a seamier side to the resort. Max encourages his Ivy League waiting staff to take advantage of the younger family members. One of these is Robbie (Callum Fitzgerald) who catches Lisa’s eye but has an awful reputation as a womaniser and is bad news despite his outward appearance.
Baby also discovers the darker side of Kellerman Camp. After spurning the advances of Max’s grandson Neil (Christian James), Frances is introduced to Johnny (Michael O’Reilly) – a rebel member of the camp’s dance instruction team – and his dancing partner Penny (Georgia Aspinall) by Johnny’s engaging relation Billy (Danny Colligan).
The attraction between Johnny and Baby grows more intimate but the love comes at a price. Frances is dragged into a world that is already changing in 1963 with the burgeoning Civil Rights movement which is setting her generation apart from that of her parents. Baby’s involvement in a botched abortion estranges her from her previously doting father and the dislike between him and Johnny seems to spell the death knell of the romance.
There are excellent performances from all cast members with a very energetic ensemble, some fabulously erotic dirty dancing – particularly from Aspinall – and a soundtrack from the sixties that allows the cast to showcase their singing talents – none more so than Colin Charles Sterling and Lydia as Camp Entertainers Tito Suarez and Elizabeth backed by a fabulous house band under the direction of Richard John. There are also some laugh-out loud moments in the show particularly provided by Mark Faith as eccentric guest Mr Schumacher and Steere’s singing “talent”. There is also a fabulous house band.
However, the major reason for attendance for the majority of the audience is to see the chemistry between the two main characters and they will have left the auditorium fully satisfied. The pair – so recently an item off the stage as well as on – have a relationship that sizzles with a desire that could leave scorch marks on the stage floor.
O’Reilly could leave many in the audience gasping with delight through his sheer physical presence. But he portrays the character of a young man torn apart by his insecurities in fine fashion and backs this up with some excellent choreography.
For her part, Malou shows excellent acting ability as she progresses from a naïve teenager to a confident adult in a matter of weeks. In addition to her exquisite talent as a dancer, she shows excellent facial expressions to portray her feelings and displays good comic timing.
This is an excellent all-round show that is even more colourful, vivacious and entertaining than the iconic film and the time flew past far too quickly. All too soon the audience were treated to THE line of dialogue and THE dance move that had been much anticipated. To thunderous applause and prolonged ovation, I am happy to report that they were delivered to perfection. And why wouldn’t they be? Perfection could be this production’s middle name.
The show has a running time of approximately 2 hours 15 minutes including interval and continues until July 8th. For ticket information contact ATGTICKETS.COM/STOKE
