I don’t know about you, but dancing isn’t one of my strong points. I was known to jump up and down on a podium to house and club music with a glow stick in each hand in my late teen years though. And for my wedding day, myself & Kerry both learned how to waltz for our first dance as we didn’t want to be another one of the couples that look like they’re moving a wardrobe around the dance floor. It wasn’t perfect, but we didn’t do a terrible job!
Dance has always been something that can grip the imagination and tell a story. Some of the best stage productions in history are cantered around dance, and more recently, TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing have gripped the nation by taking us along for the ride with people who have about as much grace as a reversing dump truck with no tyres, as they attempt to hone their skills and perform with a professional live on TV.
The point I’m trying to make, is that I think anyone can dance in some way, shape or form, and for many different reasons. (Well if I can, then anyone can) And if it’s inspiration you need, or even motivation, then do yourself a favour and pay the Regent Theatre a visit this week as Dirty Dancing will certainly do the job.
The classic story has been brought to the stage as part of a record breaking national tour, and it’s definitely one not to be missed.
Baby (Kira Malou) is one summer away from joining President Kennedy’s Peace Corps. Hoping to enjoy it, she's disappointed when she ends up at a sleepy resort in the hills with her parents. Things soon heat up when the resort's dance instructor, Johnny (Michael O’Reilly), enlists Baby as his new dance partner, and as they fall in love, her sexuality is awakened by Johnny’s energy. Baby's father forbids her from seeing Johnny, but she's determined to help him perform the last big dance of the summer, even if it means disappointing her family.
Along the way, abortion, snobbery and robbery are also touched on, which is proof that the 80’s era was fearless when it came to highlighting important social issues.
The choreography in this show is absolutely incredible. The skill, grace and sheer energy displayed by this cast is simply amazing, and most of us could only dream of being able to pull off some of these routines. Hats off to every single one of them! As for the seemingly endless crotch grinding, I’m sure we’ve all seen others attempt this on nights out, and it’s never a nice thing to witness. Dirty dancing is filthy, and demands 100% synchronicity from both performers. Anything less than this leads to what can only be described as an awkward looking dry hump session. These guys nailed it!!
The interval was timed just right, as I thought some of the ladies sat around me, my wife included, were going to pass out from the excessive heat being produced by Kira & Michael! It was great to see them return to these roles, and both dazzled with their amazing chemistry and like-ability. They were simply superb and had no problem proving why they were both front and centre.
The band were also fantastic and added extra character to the proceedings! I love it when productions bring the musicians out onto the stage, as they’re usually the unsung heroes of the night.
One of the biggest thing I noticed was that this production had no problem with turning up the volume. The vocal talents on display throughout were impressive, with a particular nod to Colin Charles as Tito Suarez. He had an incredibly soulful voice and kicked off the second act brilliantly to get everyone back into the mood!
And with a soundtrack that includes hits like “Be My Baby”, “Hungry Eyes”, “Do You Love Me”, “The Time Of My Life” and all of the other smash hits that we know and love from the film, they had every reason to crank the volume up a notch!
This cast have a big set of boots to fill as Dirty Dancing is a classic. I have to say that personally, I favoured this production massively over the movie. If you’re a die hard fan of the film, you’ll love the stage production just as much as I did. And if you’re in the same position as some of the boyfriends and husbands that I saw in attendance, and you’re quite clearly being dragged along by your better half, fear not as I guarantee that you’ll leave having had an enjoyable time at the theatre.
They said that Fifty Shades was responsible for a baby boom after its release? Well Mr Grey has NOTHING on Dirty Dancing Live! It gets a well deserved five stars from me, and I highly recommend you get your tickets for one of the best productions I’ve seen in some time.
My Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
See above for a sneak preview of what to expect!
It's playing at the Regent Theatre NOW, up until and including Saturday 8th July. Tickets are on sale and are available by calling the Regent Theatre Box Office on 0844 871 7649. You can also visit www.atgtickets.com/stoke for tickets and info.