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REVIEW
DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE 

Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
30th October - 3rd November 2018

✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5

by James Harrington
Southend's Cliffs Pavilion was the scene of a violent explosion of oestrogen last night, when Dirty Dancing the musical rolled into town. I came to this with an open mind as a novice of musical theatre and having never seen the movie in it's entirety! (Sorry ladies!)

The first thing to say is that none of the cast are ever going to win an academy award, but this show is not about the acting, it is unashamedly about the singing and dancing, which are done with exceptional skill, passion and enthusiasm.

One of the main roles is that of Penny, played by Simone Covele, who wowed the audience with her moves in a long red dress which was the closest thing to the whats-app emoji of the dancing woman in the red dress that I have ever seen! She was spectacular, as were all those on stage.

The show opened with a glimpse through a transparent curtain, at a couple dancing. Images were also being projected onto the curtain at the same time of, yeah you guessed it, a couple dancing! It has been announced at this stage that the story takes place in 1963, and the characters do make contextual references to President Kennedy and the Peace Corp. One of the characters  (Billy Kostecki played by Alex Wheeler) wishes to join the freedom riders, who are campaigning for civil rights in the southern states. Also the excellent costumes let you know what era the story is taking place in. The impressive set also adds to sixties vibe.

As most people who have seen the film will know, the story deals with issues of class snobbery and the elitism of the jet setting crowd who holiday in an upmarket resort in the Catskills Mountains. Abortion, or the lack of it's availability is another important factor in the story. Writer Elenor Bergstein (who was in the audience last night!) was told by the studio to remove this element from the screenplay. To her credit, she flat out refused, giving Dirty Dancing a credibility it might otherwise have never achieved.

However this is all just background information. Dirty Dancing the musical doesn't take itself too seriously, which became very apparent when lead man Michael O' Reilly bared his naked butt to the delight of the mostly female audience. O' Reilly plays Johnny with physicality and exuberance; he literally bounces around the stage. He is extremely athletic and an excellent dancer.  Kira Malou plays Baby in a very likeable and humorous performance. It is hard not to root for her as the plot unfolds.

The vocal skills of Sian Gentle Green also deserve a mention, whose power house performance of the songs was one of the highlights of the show.

My interest was beginning to wane towards the end, but this did not last as the final seen was very...well, uplifting when O'Reilly and Malou recreate the famous lifting scene and the atmosphere kicks up about three notches, before finishing on a fantastic, feel good high! Overall this was a fine production despite a rather low fi recreation of the dancing in water scene, which aroused a few mirthful chuckles from the audience. The feel good factor is irresistible and I can't imagine any fan of the movie not enjoying this.
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www.dirtydancingontour.com #dirtydancing /@ddonstage

For tickets at Southend go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135

DIRTY DANCING 2018/19 TOUR DATES

Tue 30 October – Sat 3 November 2018
Southend Cliffs Pavilion
www.southendtheatres.co.uk
01702 351 135
On sale now

Mon 5 – Sat 10 November 2018
Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/birmingham
0844 871 7647
On sale now
Tue 13 – Sat 17 November 2018
Preston Guild Hall
www.prestonguildhall.co.uk
01772 804 444
On sale now

Mon 19 – Sat 24 November 2018
London New Wimbledon Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/new-wimbledon-theatre
0844 871 7646
On sale now  

Tue 27 Nov – Sat 1 December 2018
Plymouth Pavilions
www.plymouthpavilions.co.uk
0845 146 1460
On sale now

Tue 4 – Sat 8 December 2018
Oxford New Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/oxford
0844 871 3020
On sale now


Sat 19 – Fri 25 January 2019
Gateshead Sage
www.sagegateshead.com
0191 443 4661  
On sale now
                            
Mon 28 January – Sat 2 February 2019
Bradford Alhambra Theatre
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
01274 432 000
On sale now

Mon 4 – Sat 9 February 2019
High Wycombe Swan
www.wycombeswan.co.uk   
01494 512 000
On sale now
Mon 11 – Sat 16 February 2019
Torquay Princess Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/torquay
0844 871 3023
On sale now

Mon 18 – Sat 23 February 2019
Swansea Grand Theatre
www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseagrandtheatre
01792 475715
On sale now

Mon 25 February – Sat 2 March 2019
Bromley Churchill Theatre
www.churchilltheatre.co.uk
020 3285 6000
On sale now
Mon 4 – Sat 9 March 2019
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
www.capitaltheatres.com 
0131 529 6000
On sale now
​
Mon 18 – Sat 23 March 2019

Woking New Victoria Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/woking 
0844 871 7645
On sale now

Mon 25 – Sat 30 March 2019
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury 
0844 871 7607
On sale now
​Mon 1 – Sat 6 April 2019

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
www.grandtheatre.co.uk 
01902 429212
On sale now

Mon 8 – Sat 13 April 2019
Ipswich Regent Theatre
https://apps.ipswich.gov.uk/
01473 433 100
On sale Friday 20 July

Mon 22 – Sat 27 April 2019
Manchester Palace Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/manchester 
0844 871 3019
On sale Friday 20 July

Tue 30 April – Sat 4 May 2019
Guildford G Live
www.glive.co.uk 
01483 369 350
On sale Friday 20 July

Mon 6 – Sat 11 May 2019
Liverpool Empire
www.atgtickets.com/liverpool 
0844 871 3017
On sale Friday 20 July

Tue 14 – Sat 18 May 2019
Grimsby Auditorium
www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk 
0300 300 0035
On sale Friday 20 July

Mon 20 – Sat 25 May 2019
Glasgow King’s Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/glasgow 
0844 871 7648
On sale Friday 20 July

Mon 1 – Sat 6 July 2019
Bristol Hippodrome
www.atgtickets.com/bristol 
0844 871 3012
On sale Friday 20 July


FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED

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  • Home
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    • Main feature writer - Kim Tobin
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