Dirty Dancing 6/27 - the worst night of theater ever

[cglaid]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 3:41am

Where do I even begin? Well, actually... let me start with the show itself. Terrible. Josef Brown couldn't act himself out of a paper bag. His opening "tough guy" line was laughable and it just went completely downhill from there. And his delivery on "Nobody puts baby in the corner" YIKES. Just awful.

The music (or lack thereof) was forgettable. There was a dialogue exchange between Baby and Johnny that was taped from the film and played in the show, while the lead actors lip synched. What was that???

The writing was abysmal. If I thought the first act was terrible, imagine my surprise during the second act. It was as if the writer gave up halfway through the first act and didn't write the second act at all and just told the actors GO.

Those are my major complaints, but let's talk about the theatergoers. I am a native NY'er and have been to many Broadway shows my entire life. This was my first experience with LA theater and let's just say I was not a fan. The audience was vocal to the point of inappropriateness. They cheered at awkward moments, sang, clapped to the beat, and then there were two ladies sitting in right orchestra that were clearly hammered. One of their phone's rang during the first act and she had the audacity to answer it! The usher went over to her immediately and it was like she was put off by him. When he walked away she continued with her conversation. Then, she and her friend were doing cat calls throughout and just having loud and obnoxious conversations, clapping at inappropriate moments, snorting (then snorting at their snorts) and so on and so forth. It was atrocious and despite all the complaints and motions to the ushers, nothing was done.

I have never experienced such a horrible night of theater. What a complete and utter disappointment.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 3:51am

What where you expecting? It's Dirty Dancing the musical. Enough said.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 4:27am

I think it had nothing to do with this being "LA Theatre". This show is a major piece of crap, was when it first premiered in Australia and apart from blowing this show up, nothing and I mean nothing will ever make it good.

[leefowler]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 9:36am

Not all theatre is for theatre goers.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 9:40am

Josef Brown couldn't act himself out of a paper bag.

Even worse is his accent. I wasn't sure where his character was supposed to be from.

[Magica]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 11:17am

Thank goodness I skipped out on this wreck last night and went to see Farragut North w/ Chris Pine at the Geffen instead.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 12:08pm

^Agree about Josef Brown, but to honest I think even the best actor on the planet could utter "Nobody puts baby in the corner" and I would still burst into giggles.

And Dirty Dancing the film is a great guilty pleasure. The stage show...well, it's the movie. On stage. Nothing new and when I went I didn't expect anything more, which is a good thing to expect with this show. It's not good and never once really tries to be.

That being said, if it goes to Broadway, it will make a mint and needs to support the high nut this show has. Every light you could possibly use on stage is used in this show.

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 12:12pm

This was the biggest waste of money I've ever been a part of. Also, it is 2 hours+ of my life of my life I will never get back.

[cglaid]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 1:09pm

Magic, how was Farragut North? That's probably my next theater venture.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 1:25pm

"Not all theatre is for theatre goers."

That is one of the greatest and truest lines ever, lee.

[homeimp]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 10:49pm

I wish people would find a different line than "2 hours of my life I will never get back". So overdone. I've spent two hours of my life reading that line, and those are two hours of my life I will never get back.

[Huey's Pop]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 6:29pm

I saw this show about a month ago. We have a season subscription with tickets 5th row center. I wasn't expecting much, but I actually enjoyed every minute of it. I'm normally a theater snob, but I guess I put my brain on hold for this one.

I'm not sure how it would do if it ever made it to New York, but as a touring musical, it's been a success.

Othe other hand, "Grease" was at the Pantages a few months back and I thought it was a MAJOR piece of junk.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 6:41pm

Didn't see it when it came through Boston. Wild horses and all that. But a couple of friends who went (lord knows why!) said the audience hooted and hollered and sang along and said the lines before the actors did. It's clearly geared toward the movie's huge groupie fan base, not the typical theater goer. One of my friends said that the theater was littered with food after the show - popcorn, candy, drink cups, etc. Let the buyer beware...

They liked the dancing, but nothing else.

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 7:36pm

I'm seeing the show in London in August, and am looking forward to it.

I think it's a pretty fair statement to say that you all ready know that "Dirty Dancing" isn't "My Fair Lady" or "Gypsy," or any other classic, powerful musical. It's not supposed to be. It's fun....pure and simple - nothing more.


Updated On: 6/29/09 at 07:36 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:21pm

I saw it in Boston during a college day trip there. Mostly because I had seen Boston several times and wanted something to do during the day and being that I hadn't been living in NYC for several months on end I was craving theatre badly. I walked in knowing that it was going to be bad based upon the comments that I read here etc. But, I walked out loving it. And, I don't think it was due to the fact that I was desperate for anything theatre related due to the fact that I was on withdrawl for a long time.

Yes, the audience did cheer at their favorite lines from the movie and when "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" was said the audience went nuts. But, I knew what I was getting myself into when I got a ticket and I was okay with that. I had a great time and even saw it again during another trip to Boston during its run there.

This show isn't high art. It is the textbook example of pure theatre fluff. I can see why this show has made a mint and has been nothing but gold in every country it has played in. It is a show based upon a cult film. I never saw the movie before seeing the show but I felt that that didn't take anything away from my enjoyment of that afternoon. If/when (I say when because the producers would be stupid if they didn't bring this show to Braodway) this show comes to Broadway I will see it again.

[flinty]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:20am

I saw Dirty Dancing in London and Boston and just loved it! I don't usually reply to posts... but cglaid has so missed the point of this show that his comments are laughable.
It is a truly fun and entertaining show. The music is fab and you can't help but sing along, the dancing makes you want to learn to dance and the ending just makes you happy to be alive. Ignore the negative comments here. If you want to go to the theatre and have a really good time... dirty Dancing is just the ticket!
Updated On: 6/30/09 at 11:20 AM

[EVIE]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 1:42pm

I had read somewhere that Tony Vincent is one of the lead singers? Is that true?

[Tag]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 1:50pm

According to the DD website, he is in the ensemble. Updated On: 6/30/09 at 01:50 PM

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 1:57pm

[BigsCanYouHereMe?]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 2:33pm

Saw the show in London last month. The audience was just as terrible as this LA show you saw. Drunk and singing along. They had Ushers at the end of the show telling people to sit down during the final song. I knew what was coming with a show like this but it still bothered me. Went to Joseph over there as well, (i know what your thinking, high class theatergoer) and this woman was singing in my ear. I had to shut one ear to hear Close Every Door by a proper singer. I do not remember London audiences being so rude in the past but maybe going over once every four years, one forgets.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 2:45pm

My partner and I went to the show and saw exactly what we expected to see. We had a great time.

I'm sorry, but if this is the worst night or theatre you've seen AND you believe the audience you described is somehow unique to LA, I can only assume you are either young, attended very little theatre, or both. I've seen worse audiences in NYC, Chicago and London.

The writing was...like the film. The music was...from the film. So perhaps you've never seen the film? The target audience is for fans of the film (which is pretty vast), so I can probably understand if you have somehow never had exposure to the film, its story, and its iconic scenes and music, then you would have cause for complaint, but it's probably something you might want to mention in your "review".

The "lack of music" was forgettable? You mean the classic songs from the 60s (and the best-selling two-volume film soundtrack) as well as the Oscar-winning hit? I'm not pretending it's a well-made musical or anything, but we (as well as most of the audience the night I attended) found it surprisingly entertaining. Part of the conceit of the show is to celebrate the classic well-known lines and clap along with the familiar tunes, etc. And I have to admit, I found as much joy in the finale as I did the first time I saw the film when I was in high school. But I do agree that Josef Brown's acting was terrible. The show is definitely not for everyone, especially those unfamiliar with the film or those who believe musical theatre should be limited to a stringent set of rules that are completely contradictory to the spirit of Broadway, but I would see it again. I especially liked the use of fluid staging paired with the lighting and projections. The driving scene was very effective.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 9:18pm

It made money in Toronto, Canada?
W the discounts they gave? I thought MAYbe they broke even, at least absorbing the basic theatre costs but make a mint?
Don't think so.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 10:19pm

For the record, it's NOT Dirty Dancing: The Musical.

It's Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage.