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Swayze: I refuse to see Dirty Dancing
By Tom Teodorczuk, Evening Standard 17.11.06
Patrick Swayze: won't go and see Dirty Dancing on stage
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Patrick Swayze, star of the film Dirty Dancing, has slammed the West End hit musical and said he has no intention of ever seeing it.
Swayze, who is himself currently starring in Guys And Dolls in the West End, told the Standard that he regards Dirty Dancing, currently playing at the Aldwych Theatre, as unoriginal and that he rebuffed producers' advances to promote the show.
Swayze said: "I haven't seen the Dirty Dancing show and I'm not going to. They wanted me to get involved but there's no way I'm filling a seat in that theatre.
"Why would I want to see something that rips out the heart and soul of the film and is just being done to make money?"
Dirty Dancing has taken more than £12 million at the box office making it the fastestselling show in West End history. Earlier this week producers announced the musical will be booking until 2008.
The show is based on the 1987 film in which Swayze starred as dance teacher Johnny Castle. Songs from the film including I've Had The Time Of My Life and She's Like The Wind also feature in the musical written by the film's creator Eleanor Bergstein.
But Swayze added: "It's no different to the original film - a cookie cutter. I hear they have hardly done anything different. And I've seen the film - why would I want to see it again?"
Swayze, who missed the first two weeks of Guys And Dolls because of a chest infection, also announced that his last performance at the Piccadilly Theatre will be on 2 December.
The star, who lives in California, said: "I've had a great time playing Nathan Detroit. But I'm going back to my ranch. I've missed being a cowboy."
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Reader views (4)
I am such a HUGE fan of the movie Dirty Dancing and Patrick Swayze that when it hit the theatre in Chicago I just had to see it. What a major disappointment! It looked like they were still in the practicing stages. There will never be another Patrick. God bless him!
- Leisa, Schaumburg, Illinois, USA
Patrick is the only original. It just isn't the same without him. He's correct about the money making!
- Vici, dinburgh /scotland
Went to see Dirty Dancing last week and loved it will be going again!
- Leann Baker, Devon
I agree with the Swayzer.
He is a legend.
- Matt Box, Bristol
