Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre

Its the Summer of 1963, and 17 year old Frances Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing.

On holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, ‘Baby’ shows little interest in the resort activities, and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles upon the staff quarters when an all-night dance party is in full swing.

Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, ‘Baby’ can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle the resort dance instructor. ‘Baby’s’ life is about to change forever as she is thrown in the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off with breathtaking consequences.

First dance. First love. You’ll have ‘the time of your life!’

Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre is a storage reproduction of the fan favourite film, so a stage version was sure to be a hit. However, what does this stage adaptation add to this well-known film? The answer is sadly, not much.

The show is written and directed almost as a direct copy from the film, which makes it a strange thing to watch as a screen to stage adaptation. It results in a lot of very bitty scenes, with performers often walking into a room, saying one line then leaving. This works well in film but does not translate well to the stage, and it results in a lot of theatrical dead air.

This really slows the pacing and the show ends up lacking energy throughout. The show lifts finally at the start of the second half with Colin Charles in his role of Tito Suarez trying to pick up the energy and get the audience on side but sadly this doesn’t last long. It only picks up again at the finale.

So will everyone dislike this? Of course not. Hardcore fans will adore the show, so little has changed from the film that they can probably mouth along with it word by word. However, for theatre fans or people who are just so-so about the film, I’m afraid this is one to skip.

Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre is on until the 16th of April, tickets start from £24 and can be purchased from London Theatre Direct.