BWW Reviews: DIRTY DANCING at the Fabulous Fox Theatre

By: Oct. 27, 2014
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If you're a fan of the film Dirty Dancing then I have no doubt you'll find plenty to be excited about with the stage version that is currently playing at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. It's extremely faithful to the original movie, in fact it may be so much so that you might ask yourself what the point is, since you can always rent or purchase the DVD and watch it over and over to your heart's delight. But, despite that, I think it's a show that has a very broad appeal, and I can see it winning favor with both fans and newbies. And, there's just something special about seeing a show live that can't be, or rarely is, duplicated by Hollywood (even though this is the reverse process). That's why I find it especially odd that it's taken ten years for this show to go on a national tour of the USA since it's conception in 2004 in Australia.

If you've seen the movie then you already know the plot, and though some extra scenes have been added, along with a couple of songs, the basis of the show is culled from actual memories experienced by screen and book writer for the show, Eleanor Bergstein. Frances "Baby" Houseman and her family go on vacation to a resort in the Catskill Mountains in the summer of 1963. This idealistic young woman, who's just one of those rare people who actually cares about others, finds herself coming of age as she becomes entranced by the dancers who entertain the guests. She seeks them out even though contact is strictly forbidden by management, and when Johnny Castle's partner, Penny Johnson, finds herself in trouble, Baby steps in to help her out financially, and by becoming Johnny dance partner for a special performance. A romance begins to develop between the pair, but gets derailed when Penny's abortion is botched and Baby has to ask her doctor father for help. Johnny takes responsibility, but his actual role (or lack thereof) in her becoming pregnant is misinterpreted, and Baby is told to stay away from him. Naturally, the situation takes an upbeat turn by the end of the show, climaxing with a stellar final dance between the pair, as well as the hit tune, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life."

In a way, this is a unique show to review since the actors act, the dancers dance, and the singers sing, with just a bit of crossover occurring. That's not what you typically expect when a piece of cinema gets adapted for the stage, but here it remains true to its source material. Jillian Mueller gives a wonderful performance as "Baby", and carries the show with her considerable charm and pluckiness. Samuel Pergande does some fine work as dancer Johnny Castle, but his acting skills are fairly one note, at least until he comes back to the resort for one final dance and confrontation. Jenny Winton makes a vivid impression as the leggy and lithe Penny, and gives her role the "chip on her shoulder" attitude that you would expect, before she realizes the good intentions that Baby genuinely possesses. Mark Elliot Wilson does nice work as Baby's father, and Sam Edgerly makes his character Robbie a true jerk, which is fitting since he's the one who's actually responsible for Penny's situation. The rest of the cast, whether singing, acting, or dancing, does solid work across the board.

James Powell's direction keeps the pace moving along briskly, almost to the point where it mimics the editing of the film. That's greatly enhanced by the video projection designs of Jon Driscoll, which brings the surroundings to life. Jennifer Irwin's costumes conjure up the era, and so does Michele Lynch's choreography. My main beef is that the music sometimes overpowers the dialog, but that seemed to get better as the show progressed. The mixture of live vocals and vintage recordings is in keeping with the original work, but there are so many that some get cut short, or lost in the process.

Overall, this is a winning combination of elements that succeeds in recreating the feel of the movie, while also making it viable for the stage. This production continues through November 2, 2014 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.



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