THE BASICS: The national tour of DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE (based on the 1987 movie DIRTY DANCING starring Patrick Swayze) runs through May 8, with remaining shows Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Limited tickets available ($35-$80). Run time almost 2-1/2 hours with one 20-minute intermission. Alcohol available, including champagne, coffee bar, cookies and memorabilia, and a photo op stage where you can pose with props.
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: It’s the summer of 1963 and 17-year-old Frances “Baby” Houseman’s family is on vacation in the Catskills at “Kellerman’s” resort. Baby falls for the sexy dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and, despite his experience telling him not to, he falls for her too. With a blend of original recordings (for example “Save The Last Dance for Me” sung by the Drifters), musical covers by the pit band, and a few well-done covers sung live – including the signature song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”) – the tempo is up-beat and the dancing, as you would hope, is first rate. Shea’s audiences are always enthusiastic in their final applause, but this time I experienced something beyond that. It seemed like an outpouring of love surging back up onto the stage.
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: Although it might seem like a sacrilege to say this, Christopher Tierney as Johnny Castle is a better dancer than Patrick Swayze was in the original movie DIRTY DANCING. And, judging by the audible gasps from the heavily female crowd when Tierney takes off his shirt on stage, he delivers the same sex appeal.
Although it might seem like a sacrilege to say this, Christopher Tierney as Johnny Castle is a better dancer than Patrick Swayze was in the original movie DIRTY DANCING.
Jennifer Winton, as Johnny’s dance partner Penny Johnson at Kellerman’s resort, has even more classic ballet experience (she joined the Joffrey in 2009) than Tierney (Hubbard Street Dance). And, while her head shot reveals that IRL she is a waif-like ballerina, on stage with her red dress, killer blond hair, and spins (go find your college physics textbook and read about “angular momentum”), she is a major attraction.
But, all the dancers are attractive. During the ensemble numbers, it’s hard to know where to look, because this is a high energy crowd. By the way, the original movie choreography was by Kenny Ortega. The stage show choreography is by Michele Lynch, based on original choreography by Kate Champion (the stage show originated in Australia).
Two thoughts came to mind in regard to the television show “Dancing with the Stars.” On the TV show, one member of every couple is an amateur. So as good as they are, they will never be as good as two professionals. When Tierney (as Johnny) and Winton (as Penny) are on stage together, it’s pretty magical. The other thought is that after many seasons of “Dancing with the Stars” we’ve seen the hard work it takes when a professional dancer tries to bring an amateur up to speed. It’s always a highlight and when Johnny works with Baby, it all feels very natural.
Acting kudos go to Rachel Boone as “Baby” who has, over 2-1/2 hours, to lose her innocence, her virginity, and her awkwardness in a believable way. Anytime you speed up a process too fast, the result can be comical, and while there are deliberate laugh moments, her pacing is good.
If this show doesn’t take you back to your first love and, more importantly, “your first time” then you’re kind of missing the whole point.
A spectacular part of the production are the projected sets which fill the entire stage and lend themselves perfectly to the quick-change nature of the show. I’ve seen projected backdrops, but I’ve never seen anything as close to an entire virtual-reality stage before.
And sexy? If this show doesn’t take you back to your first love and, more importantly, “your first time” then you’re kind of missing the whole point.
DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE features the hit songs “Hungry Eyes”, “Hey! Baby”, “Do You Love Me?” and, as mentioned, “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.” Original recordings by Gene Chandler, The Chantels, The Drifters, Marvin Gaye, Lesley Gore, Mickey & Sylvia, and The Surfaris all add “authenticity” to this show set in the 1960s.
And a couple of thoughts about that. When most people say “the sixties” what they really mean is the sex, drugs, rock’n’roll, and Vietnam War anxiety from 1967 (the “Summer of Love”) to 1974 (Nixon’s resignation). There is another ”sixties,” the time of the Kennedy Administration, the Peace Corps, and the Civil Rights movement. That’s the period we see on stage. In fact, there is a scene on stage (intended for but left out of the movie) when the staff at Kellerman’s gathers to listen to Dr. Martin Luther King deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech (August, 1963). It’s worth revisiting and re-reading that speech.
And while over 50 years later every word spoken could have been said yesterday (unfortunately), I did notice one tiny area of growth. And that was, at least in the ensemble, black actors/dancers and white actors/dancers were cast in a mostly colorblind manner. But then, all the leads were white. This last summer at the Chautauqua Institution, they put on a version of Thornton Wilder’s play OUR TOWN in which the entire cast was mixed and that was newsworthy. So if blending the entire cast in a colorblind manner at Chautauqua is seen as edgy, certainly a national touring production is not going to risk taking the focus off the musical itself. But the fact that at least the ensemble was blended was a refreshing step forward.
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!