Sexy Dancing and 1960s Hits Propel “Dirty Dancing”
By Skip Sheffield
If you like sexy dancing and classic 1960s musical hits,
“Dirty Dancing” is the perfect show for you.
Director James Powell cast the two leads to closely resemble
the actors in the surprise 1987 sleeper hit movie. Rail-thin Rachel Boone has
the kinky, curly hair of Jennifer Grey as Frances “Baby” Houseman. Christopher
Tierney has the physical appearance and more important the agile, high-jumping
dance moves of the late Patrick Swayze. Tierney even sounds like Swayze.
This fairy tale romance, with book by Eleanor Bergstein, is
set at a Catskill resort in the summer of 1962.
“Baby” Houseman (Boone) is there with her parents, Dr. Jake
Houseman (Mark Eliot Wilson) and Marjorie (Margot White) and a somewhat jealous
older sister Lisa (Alex Scolari).
Johnny Castle (Tierney) is the resident dance instructor and
object of desire for many of the female guests. There is a side plot involving
Penny Johnson (Jenny Winton), who also is the most amazing female dancer in the
show.
Baby is naïve in many ways, but not immune to the charms of
Johnny Castle. When he takes a special interest in her and offers private dance
lessons, Baby is a goner.
“Dirty Dancing” is powered by a parade of 1960s hits such as
“This Magic Moment,” “Hey Baby” and “Cry to Me” as well as the smashing
original finale number “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” Outstanding soloists
are Doug Carpenter and Adrienne Walker.
If you are of a certain age, this is all killer material. If
you appreciate spectacular dancing, it doesn’t matter what your age is. “Dirty
Dancing” is a winner.
Tickets are $30, $45, $65 and $105. Call 954-462-0222 or go
to www.browardcenter.org.
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