Dirty Dancing at Bristol Hippodrome - Review
Posted on: 2017-07-04
Our rating:
This is a brand-new and inventive re-imagining of the classic story
It’s hard to believe that it has been 30 years since Patrick Swayze, in the guise of Johnny Castle, first donned his leather jacket and shades to proclaim ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner’, before dancing up a storm to give his leading lady the time of her life in movie classic Dirty Dancing. Now the well-loved tale, first brought to the stage in 2004, has returned to the Bristol Hippodrome on the latest leg of its sensational UK tour.
Set in the summer of 1963, this is the coming-of-age story of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman. Holidaying in the Catskill Mountains with her parents and older sister, she develops a relationship with holiday camp stud Johnny Castle who introduces her to dance, sex and love, all set against the social and political unrest of a decade marked by war, changing attitudes and the growing fight for gender and racial equality. Through her relationship with this dancing rebel, the idealistic and naïve Baby comes to understand herself and reassess her place in the world.
This is a production that sticks closely to the original meaning the audience, who cannot fail to have seen the film at least once, are able to keep up with the fast paced narrative and whirling, high energy dance numbers. The classic 60s soundtrack is there, with iconic song after iconic song – including Hungry Eyes, Hey! Baby, Do You Love Me? and (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life - carrying the audience through to the glorious, spine-tingling finale.
Directed by Federico Bellone, choreographed by Gillian Bruce and with a set devised by Roberto Comotti, this is a brand-new and inventive re-imagining of the classic story, with enough tweaks and twists to keep the version fresh. The set revolves to allow one scene to effortlessly merge into another, and lighting and sound (apart from a few unfortunate moments when music overwhelmed the narrative) blend together to evoke the perfect mood.
Lewis Griffiths was fun to watch as Johnny Castle. He sashayed across the stage, oozing charisma, danger and sex-appeal; twirling, thrusting and jumping his way through the show as if he was born for the role.
Katie Eccles plays the innocent and unsophisticated female lead with a degree of poise and care, but is never 100% convincing. It is tricky to get the tone of Baby’s journey from idealist to realist just right, and while she tries this doesn’t always come across, possibly hindered by the lack of any real chemistry between the two leads.
There is however excellent support on hand; Carlie Milner as Penny Johnson is a real scene stealer, reeling around the floor showing off her impressive dance skills and seemingly endless legs. Lizzie Ottley, as Baby’s sister Lisa, also delivered a standout performance; a largely comic character she portrayed her with warmth and compassion, and delivered a hilarious routine in the final talent show.
Dirty Dancing is a fantastic night of cheesy pop culture fun designed to leave the audience with a smile on their faces. Great music, stunning dancing and fabulous sets mean this show is a real audience pleaser that is well worth seeing.
To get your tickets and for information on all other shows at Bristol Hippodrome click here.
Article by:
Sarah-Jane is an aficionado of film, theatre, culture and the arts. A voracious reader and avid crafter, she can be found volunteering her face painting talents at Bristol Zoo when she's not cementing her reputation as Coalpit Heath’s cake maker extraordinaire. Known to have an opinion on everything she’s never happier than when sharing these with the good folk of Bristol!
