Sets Take Center Stage

Ticketmaster asked me to write a review on "Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story Onstage" for a chance to win a $500 TM gift card. Wow! I can watch about 5 to 8 shows with that! So, gladly, I did.

Dirty Dancing (the musical) is faithful to the film from where it is adapted. It struck a nostalgic note with me since I grew up with the movie & its music.

But it is for that same reason that it felt like watching the same old thing; there is a kind of ho-hum feeling.

Except for one thing: the sets. In keeping with the atmosphere of the movie, the set and production design took an innovative turn.

I especially liked:

• the lake scene where the stage is turned into a big body of water with nets & video of rippling waves;
  
• the car scenes where the actors get inside an actual car and a film of a road taken from the rear is shown behind them;
  
• when the stage turns into one big forest with a video of leaves & trees covering the entire stage;
  
• and the many set changes where props would emerge from above & below, turning the stage setting from interior to exterior & vice versa in sweeping, seamless fashion.

It was also exciting to experience the moves strutted and the music & songs performed live onstage. It was like watching a Dancing with the Stars concert live.

But kudos goes to the production and set design team that make the stage version of Dirty Dancing utterly breathtaking.

Here's a link to Devils & Dancing, the precursor post to Sets Take Center Stage.