A discussion by Kate O’Brien
I am very excited to be writing about another #theatretrip!
As always, I had an amazing time at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
Last week we went to see the incredible Dirty Dancing live on stage and it did not disappoint. As fans of the movie we were very excited to see the story brought to life. This show is a treat.
In many ways it is an interesting show to go and see due to it being a live retelling of an iconic movie, this show and others like it, attract a very enthusiastic audience. I won’t go into too much detail on this point now because it is irrelevant to a theatre trip discussion and it is also irrelevant to how fantastic the show is, but in terms of audience discussions, it is fascinating to reflect on how some of the more serious, social commentary scenes come either directly before or after sexier moments on stage. These heavier moments that give weight to both the show and the movie clash directly with cheers from the audience because Baby and Johnny are finally having their big romantic scene and it is a scene that everyone has been waiting for.
In terms of pacing, when watching the movie, I’ve always wished that at least a day had passed in between Penny’s tragic and terrifying abortion gone wrong scene and Johnny and Baby’s intimate scene, just because the switch from being so terrified about Penny’s health to watching two characters finally come together romantically at last after the build-up between them has always felt a bit odd. I feel this pacing is odd on stage too. I understand the logic behind it. Baby is comforting Johnny, apologising for her father’s rudeness to him, Johnny is telling her how much he admires her and the scene builds to Baby confessing her feelings for him. She’s afraid she’ll never feel so deeply for anyone ever again. So I do understand how the scene comes to play out as it does, I do just wish that there had been some space between that scene and the terrifying scene that comes before it. The scene before is such a crucial moment for Penny’s arc and I always wish we had been allowed to sit with it for a while longer, but that is a personal opinion, and although I do have some thoughts about the pacing, that has nothing to do with the phenomenal job that the cast did.
Michael O’Reilly plays Johnny. The rugged and charismatic dance teacher whom we all adore. Michael is a true leading man, he commands attention and applause in every scene he is in. I think he perfectly balanced portraying Johnny in a way that felt familiar and true to the movie, without doing a total Swayze impression. I detected a southern accent, if I’m not mistaken, and I thought that he did an incredible job throughout the show. He is clearly a fantastic dancer, and he quite obviously endeared himself to an entire Dublin audience because the cheers that erupted when he returned for his big moment were electric!
I also thoroughly enjoyed how he waited for the cheering to quiet down (which involved audience shushing too) to deliver his iconic line “Nobody puts Baby in a corner!”
Kira Malou was charming as Baby. Again, she embodied some of the iconic moments from the movie without being a caricature. Her personal and sexual awakening felt very organic and natural. It is a real treat seeing Baby come into her own as the show progresses. At its core, Dirty Dancing is a coming of age story. Baby comes of age. She becomes her own person, she realises that her father is not always right about everything. She falls in love, she learns that she has strong opinions about things and how sometimes she will disagree with things she has been taught and that is okay. It is an empowering story about a young woman who finds her voice and loudly uses it. In fact she expresses herself with her entire body through the art of dance and Kira Malou was absolutely fantastic in the role.
Georgia Aspinall dazzled as Penny. Penny is one of my favourite characters. Her arc is so crucial to the entire plot. Georgia was both fiery and very endearing, and of course she was an incredible dancer. Penny is such a complex part. She is scared, she is both hurt by and angry at Robbie. In the beginning she is hostile towards Baby and you can’t blame her for that, and then she is completely appreciative of the lengths that Baby goes to in order to help her. It is a rollercoaster of a part but Georgia’s performance always felt very genuine. One of my favourite scenes takes place during the “Hungry Eyes” training sequence. I love the moment when Penny dances with Baby and Johnny. She gives her the high heels, she helps her with the sexier dance moves. Penny really helps Baby come into her own and embrace her sexual side. It is so lovely to see two female characters who could not be more different find common ground and support each other.
The rest of the cast was incredible too. Each of the ensemble scenes, where everyone bursts onto the stage and begins to dance, were fantastic. The stage was filled with passion and talent. You truly feel like you’re in the staff dance house when you’re watching from the audience. Everyone is working together but doing different moves. Lifts here, spins there, everywhere you look there is something amazing happening, all set to some iconic music. Bravo to the cast, crew, and to the staff at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
Dirty Dancing live on stage is a treat for movie lovers and theatre lovers alike.
It is a show that is buzzing with energy, passion, love, and underneath all of that, the show is grounded by some key themes surrounding coming of age and social issues. If you get the opportunity to see this show, don’t miss it!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram @katelovesliterature if you don’t already for all updates about what is #comingup on Katelovesliterature.com
Katelovesliterature.com 