Churchill Theatre- until Saturday 2 March 2019
Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith
4****
When an iconic film from the 80’s is turned into a musical can it really be as effective on stage? Well the answer to that is yes it can.
The Churchill stage was transformed into the holiday resort of Kellerman’s where families take their vacations. A hive of activities from simple games like “Simon Says” to the end of season talent show and not lets forget about the dance lessons. These lessons are popular with the bored wealthy woman who spend their weeks alone at the resort while their husband are working. The dance instructor is a very attractive, athletic young man called Jonny Castle who finds the attention of these rich woman somewhat unnerving as he has come from nothing and is not encouraged by the management to have liaisons with the clients.
The bus boys are all college students on their way to better things in life and look down on the entertainment hosts as lesser people.
When the lead female dancing instructor, Penny, finds herself knocked up by one of these college boys a back street abortion is arranged to an almost disastrous end. Step up “Baby”. Baby is the young daughter of a doctor who saves the day by getting her Father to help Penny after the abortion and steps in as Johnny’s dance partner so they don’t lose their
much needed jobs.
Baby is played by Kira Malau with, at first a great naivety to what is going on around here, but soon catches on and discovers she’s not a child any more. Her initial dance moves were awkward and she really portrayed the giggly girl Baby was as first.
Michael O’Reilly gave a great performance of the mis understood, brooding Johnny. His dance moves were energetic and you could sense the irritation he felt being landed with this young girl to train. That soon changes with the scene in the lake cementing their feelings for each other. This scene was very funny and very imaginatively brought to life with no actual water! The audience were somewhat distracted by the removal of his shirt and even his trousers. This bought a whoop from the ladies.
Simone Covele had legs that were not only incredible long but very bendy and she danced her way into some amazing positions.
The action is fast paced and some scenes were a little out of whack if you don’t know the film. The singers had great voices but I thought it unusual for the leads not to be the singing.
Like all good musicals you should come out of the theatre wanting to dance off down the street and this production certainly did that. With the finale bringing the house down with the iconic dance moves to The Time of my Life raising the audience out of their seats.
This production is funny and energetic, as well as covering some seedier sides of life, ending with the famous lift, congratulation cast members you nailed it.