Review: DIRTY DANCING - The Time Of Your Life

Last night, The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester welcomed Dirty Dancing the musical to its stage, wowing its audience with a familiar song and dance routine straight from the 1987 film classic.

Opening night kicked off with a pre-show party for select guests located at the Italian hot spot Nuovo Restaurant on Shrewsbury Street with specialty drinks named after the movie (think: The Time of My Life) and buffet of pasta selections of meaty lasagnas and cheesy chicken penne.

At 7:30pm, the show began with an upbeat, sensual dance number taking the audience back to the summer of 1963, where Frances "Baby" Houseman (Rachel Boone) and her family head to the Catskill Mountains for a summer retreat.

There, she witnesses more than just a game of Simon Says - although she does win a rubber chicken from it. During her stay at Kellerman, Baby learns about raunchy dancing from the entertainment crew consisting of main man Johnny Castle (Christopher Tierney) and Penny Johnson (Jenny Winton).

The young teenager is instantly enthralled by Johnny and Penny's dance moves (it's hard not to be) and after learning about Penny's pregnancy predicament, Baby gets a chance to try her own steps on the dance floor with Johnny, filling in for the long-legged professional dancer for a show.

Baby's hooked, but it's not just the dancing that has heart going "ga gunk," it's her sexy partner Johnny that's making her swoon - and for good reason. With impressive dance moves reminiscent to the late Patrick Swayze, this man reels everyone in - including the audience.

And while the dancing is stellar, the music in this show is incredible. With songs like "In The Still of the Night," "You Don't Own Me," and of course, ("I've Had) The Time of My Life" played live with voices that stun you in your seat, this musical has it all. It's funny, sexy, and touching, with a love story so sincere it will leave you as hopeful as a lovesick 17 year-old.

Running from now until June 12th, this is the musical's last and final stop of the season, so if you haven't seen it yet, now's your chance to "have the time of your life" - until it kicks off again in September.

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