BWW Reviews: DIRTY DANCING - THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE at Providence Performing Arts Center

"I carried a watermelon!", one of the most memorable lines from the classic love story Dirty Dancing, is brought to life on stage in the wildly fun production currently touring North America. For those who have been living under a rock since 1987 or have somehow deprived themselves from enjoying this beloved film, Dirty Dancing is the coming-of-age story of Frances "Baby" Houseman told over the course of the summer of 1963. On a family vacation at an extravagant summer resort called Kellerman's in her last summer before attending college and living out her dreams of joining the Peace Corps and changing the world, Baby meets resident bad boy dance instructor Johnny Castle and their whirlwind romance is exciting, inspiring, and unforgettable.

Audiences around the world have made the film a hit, and its soundtrack is just as treasured. A mix of classics from the 1960s and hits like "Hungry Eyes" and "She's Like the Wind", plus the Golden Globe, Academy Award and Grammy-winning song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", the soundtrack perfectly translates to the stage production. Eleanor Bergstein, writer of both the original film and this new adaptation, carefully designed the soundtrack before even writing the script. The music captures the heartbeat of the story and its characters; the rhythms inspire the dancing that awaken Baby's passion and new thirst for life.

The amazingly talented cast of actors, singers, and dancers do not disappoint. As Baby, Gillian Abbott channels Jennifer Grey in a way that is almost too perfect. The bouncy curls of her hair, the awkward mannerisms as Baby first learns how to move her hips, and the delivery of her classic impulsive lines are all so wonderfully familiar. As Johnny, Samuel Pergande impressively becomes the James Dean-esque, rebel with a heart of gold and a leather jacket that Patrick Swayze emulated so well. Pergande's dancing is flawless, matched only by the beautiful Jenny Winton as Penny. Watching these two dance together is enough to make anyone sign up for a ballroom dance class immediately after leaving the theater. The ensemble of dancers who fill out the rest of the resort staff are endlessly entertaining to watch as well, especially in scenes which feature the staff in their private domain dancing the night away.

While this show should not be classified as a typical stage musical, the on-stage band and vocal stylings of Jennlee Shallow, Doug Carpenter, John Antony, Rachel Boone, Josh Drake, and Joshua Keith must be praised. The final song of the night, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", is a brilliant duet performed by Jennlee Shallow and Doug Carpenter. Shallow also shines on "You Don't Own Me" and "We Shall Overcome", an interesting addition which vaguely and somewhat unsuccessfully attempts to create political B-plot to the story by paying homage to the historic events of the Civil Rights movement happening in the summer of 1963. A standout moment of the show is Carpenter's "In The Still Of The Night (I'll Remember)", a scene not from the movie, but a great addition if only for the pleasure of hearing Carpenter's sultry performance of the classic love song.

An unbelievably fast pace keeps the show moving and allows for almost nothing from the film to be left behind. Using multiple screens to show moving images of the settings as part of the set allows for less transitional time between scenes. The few set pieces that do appear on stage include furniture and small stages, and are seamlessly moved on and off stage in a speedy manner to allow for an effortless flow from scene to scene, quite like a film. Similarly, the majority of the costumes are exact replicas of those worn in favorite scenes from the film. Baby's memorable outfits are perfectly translated, specifically in her performances with Johnny at the Sheldrake and in the final dance scene at the talent show.

Baby and Johnny's final performance is the climactic finale that fans will hope for. By the time Pergande is on stage delivering the line, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner," audiences have become a part of the story and the excitement continues right through to the final bows. The classic choreography is executed impeccably on stage-including the iconic lift! The power of the original story is definitely felt in this show, and the emotional finale is enough to bring audiences up on their feet, dancing out of the theater and revisiting the soundtrack and film to fall in love all over again. Don't miss the chance to have "the time of your life" singing and dancing along to this show! Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage is at PPAC until April 26th, 2015, and continues its tour in Boston at the Colonial Theatre.

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