Dirty Dancing at Belgrade Theatre Coventry - Review

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Tue 02 Nov 2021 - Sat 06 Nov 2021

It was a hit movie and a successful stage show and now it's back on tour. Currently at Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Dirty Dancing takes us back to the sixties for a celebration of life, love, rhythm and, of course, dance.



It's a simple story – wide-eyed innocent Frances 'Baby' Houseman and her family spend a holiday at the Kellerman's resort, where she discovers another life among the staff. Brought up in a loving but privileged family, Baby finds that not all people are so fortunate. And when she steps in to save the day at a dance performance, she also discovers love and passion with dance teacher and entertainer Johnny Castle. But love can't run smooth and, faced with opposition from her family, Baby's love seems doomed – or does it?

While it's not a new plot, what sets Dirty Dancing aside is simply that – its music and dancing. Set to tunes from the sixties and from the film including You Do Something To Me, Hungry Eyes, Do You Love Me? and (I've Had) The Time of My Life, and packed with jaunty dance numbers, the show sizzles with the expectation and exuberance of youth.

Kira Malou plays a slowly awakening Baby. An idealist who believes she can change the world, when she discovers real hardship, she is kind and caring, putting the relationship with her family in jeopardy for her new-found friends. Malou has that quirky blend of naïvety and experience which makes Baby such a loveable character. Malou blends the humour of her awkwardness as she meets her new friends and attempts to learn the new dance steps with the fervour underlying her desire to do the right thing.

Company choreographer Austin Wilks stepped into Johnny's shoes for the press night and was soon wooing not just Baby but many in the audience with his bare-chested (and bare-bottomed!) moves.



Lynden Edwards has the role of Baby's father Dr Jake Houseman well in his grasp, which is not surprising seeing as he also took the part in the first UK tour ten years ago. He is stern but eventually fair, wanting, as we would hope all dads do, simply what is best for his daughter but not sure immediately what that is.

Thomas Sutcliffe gives a great comic turn as Neil Kellerman, the rich kid among the staff, who is keen to be liked by all – especially Baby. As he drags her around the dance floor and tells her he's a real prize, it's hard not to laugh.

There was a bit of hesitancy in places on this press night but that's understandable with some cast changes but this is a feel-good show which will quickly have audiences up on their feet. It has remained popular since I first saw it a decade ago and now has a few small adaptations to fit the fact it has become a theatre institution in its own right.

After so many months without live stage, it is great to be in a packed auditorium with an audience enjoying a show, clapping along when called on to join in and rooting for love to triumph. The show's finest moment with the famous dance lift was met with resounding applause from an audience clearly glad to be back in the theatre.

Dirty Dancing plays Belgrade Theatre Coventry until Saturday 6 November see www.belgrade.co.uk for ticket information. The tour then takes in Edinburgh, Dartford, Bradford, Killarney and Castelbar – see www.dirtydancingontour.com for more details.

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!date 02/11/2021 -- 06/11/2021
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