Reworking the classic 1987 romantic dance movie and transferring it to the live stage could have been a dangerous project. The most iconic scenes in the film are so huge that surely the stage could never reproduce them but, with skillful use of projected scenery and complex lighting design, somehow it works!
On top of that we see some extremely complex dance routines, we hear all of the classic lines from the movie script, enjoy a musical score full of sultry Latin rhythms and million selling hit tunes and marvel at the skill of a troupe of dancers who wouldn’t look out of place alongside the “Strictly” professionals and we end up watching a show that keeps the movie lovers happy and devotees of live theatre amused.
The 100 minute movie has had extra scenes added to create a two and a half hour theatre show and yet, somehow, the plotline is just as paper thin as it ever was and, as the title suggests, the show is, fundamentally, just about the dancing – which plays to the strengths of the cast.
Carlie Milner, as Penny, is, quite simply, the most spectacular dancer. Her moves are strong and sultry and, just like the superb dancer Cyd Charisse, she has legs that go all the way up to her armpits. Together with the ensemble, who all display beautiful style and unsurpassed skill, they bring Gillian Bruce’s superb choreography to life amazingly well.
Central to the success of the production are the two main characters of Johnny and “Baby”, played by Lewis Griffiths and Katie Eccles. In act one they work well individually, but there is little “chemistry” in their first meetings. Having said that, act two is a completely different story and, by the time Johnny delivers the iconic “Noboby puts Baby in a corner” line, the audience are so enthusiastic about their relationship that they bring the house down.
As mentioned before, this is primarily a showcase of superb dancing. The production sticks faithfully to the movie script which ensures that those who have seen the film many times, and the vast majority of the predominantly female audience appear to fall into that category, are left delighted.
**** Four stars