Twenty years have passed since Patrick Swayze set millions of teenage girls' hearts aflutter with his hip-swivelling performance in Dirty Dancing. If the excitement surrounding the stage version of the flick is anything to go by, however, the musical romance made a lasting impression on female fans of all ages.
British acting veterans Joanna Lumley and Barbara Windsor were joined by younger starlet Myleene Klass when the eagerly awaited show opened in London's Aldwych Theatre on Tuesday evening. And with £12 million worth of tickets already sold – a record breaking figure for the West End – it seems they're not the only ones keen to relive the story.
This time around Australian stage performer Josef Brown takes on the role of heart-throb Johnny Castle, while British newcomer Georgina Rich plays the part made famous by Jennifer Grey.
Devotees of the original can rest assured that the production stays faithful to their favourite film. Thanks to some expensive and imaginative set designs, it even includes the famous scene where a bare-chested Johnny lifts his young admirer out of the water and holds her in the air. And needless to say, the immortal line "no-one puts Baby in the corner" has also been preserved.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
