Time of My Life

Watching Dirty Dancing at Aldwych theatre last Friday transported me back to 1988.

The days of shoulder padded dresses, bicycle shorts and McGyver. Thanks to a weekly dose of Kasey Casem on American Top 40, I wanted to style my hair ala Debbie Gibson. My fashion idol was my older cousin who wore blue eye shadow and runched up her jacket sleeves. I was a member of the David Copperfield and Rick Astley fan club.

I was an obstinate 12 year old, desperately wanting to go watch THE movie but my parents would not hear of it (in retrospect who would blame them? It's not a movie for a 12 year old). I remember moping around thinking how unfair life was.

This time around, thank god shoulder pads have faded into a natural death (although this cyclical fashion thing creeps me out. Never know when some trash from the past is going to be recycled) and I could stay out as late as I wanted.

Dirty Dancing 2006 started on a rain soaked note. We girls were wet, cold and hungry as we battled the downpour and quickly grabbed a snack before hurrying to our seats. Suddenly, the lights dimmed and an anticipated hush enveloped. A flicker of colours and sounds jolted us into life and like a thunderbolt, Johnny Castle gyrated his way into our hearts. The 90% female crowd went wild. For 2 1/2 hours, we watched lurrvvve blooming at Kellerman's and waited for Baby and Johnny to dance. We hardly sat towards the end, joining in the songs and moving to the beat.

If you were in Holborn last Friday and wondered why on earth droves of girls were rowdily screaming at the top of their voices as they were walking to the tube, including my mad friend Ewok, you will know now. Amidst the pelting rain, we were missing Johnny and singing I've had the Time of Life....