Dirty Dancing

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When "Dirty Dancing" movie hit the theatres in 1987, it became a surprise smash hit, thanks largely to the white-hot chemistry between Patrick Swayze as brooding dance instructor Johnny Castle and Jennifer Grey as Frances (Baby) Houseman, the idealistic summer vacationer who falls in love with him. It seems impossible to comprehend but it was 20 years ago that the movie caused couples to try their dirty dancing moves on the dance floor. Hopes were riding high for the North American premiere of the musical currently playing in Toronto.

The show, which had its humble beginnings in Australia in 2004 and later became a smash hit in London, launched its first North American production at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre on Nov. 16. Producers were evidently riding on expectations that the massive popularity of the film would fuel ticket sales regardless of the production’s quality. And now, as the Toronto show is now selling well through August 2008, they’ve already been proven right.

The reviews have been  mixed. We went to the theatre last night with open minds. But even with a slick set design, talented ensemble and what would seem to be a foolproof plot designed to tug tightly on North American heartstrings, “Dirty Dancing” cannot decide whether it is a film or a musical. In the end, it turns out to be neither.

But first, the good news. Leads Monica West as the painfully naive Baby and Jake Simons as the hot-blooded rebel Johnny Castle are fine dancers, and very easy on the eyes at that. A couple of amazing vocal soloists can be found in 2005 “Canadian Idol” winner Melissa O’Neill and Ryan Gifford. And despite everything its creators have done to drag things down, it remains impossible not to squeeze some enjoyment out of the musical’s 50- plus songs.

Most everything that made the film so much fun is preserved, including its hokey dialogue, its quintessentially ’80s low-rent music montages and its awfully contrived story line. Unfortunately, the steamy connection that made the movie such a success is conspicuously absent in the stage show. 

The movie's unforgettable songs are also here, including "She's Like the Wind" (the film version was sung by Swayze), the memorable end-of-summer "Kellerman's Anthem," and the Oscar-winning "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," performed deftly in the Toronto stage show by "Canadian Idol" winner Melissa O'Neil. 

Much of the film's appeal was in the highly suggestive dance moves, and there's plenty of shimmying in the Toronto show, including standout moves by Milwaukee-born Britta Lazenga as Penny, the summer instructor whose accidental pregnancy forces Baby to become Johnny's dance partner in the first place.   

At the end of the first half both mom and I looked at one another, we both were having a difficult time caring about any of the characters on the stage. The rest of the group pooh poohed us and suggested that perhaps we were just too curmudgeon-like to enjoy such a show. Hmmmmmm

Now to be fair, the second act was far better and in the end I did feel a tug when Johnny struted on the stage and had the famous 'last dance of the season' with Frances. Dirty Dancing fans are a pretty rabid bunch. Many of them will likely have the time of their lives revisiting the classic tale on-stage.