The cast of Dirty Dancing brought fun, laughter and swagger to the Hippodrome this week, giving a performance guaranteed to delight fans of the original film.

The setting for the show is Kellerman’s, an American resort for wealthy families and the ideal holiday location for doctor Jake Houseman and his family.

For the guests there are organised activities and ballroom dancing lessons, but behind closed doors the resort’s hired dancers let their hair down with some wilder moves.

Their struggles in a split society are new to Mr Houseman’s daughter Frances, invariably known as Baby, who eventually falls for dance teacher Johnny Castle.

Much of the show sticks faithfully to the original 1987 script and the cast has been chosen carefully, as many of the actors looked remarkably similar to their film counterparts.

There was dancing, music and singing, including many of the film’s popular numbers from Hungry Eyes and Do You Love Me? to (I’ve Had) the Time of My Life.

Roseanne Frascona played the loveable character of Baby well, while understudy Lewis Kirk shone as Johnny Castle in Wednesday night’s show, raising several wolf whistles in some of the show’s steamier scenes.

Claire Rogers, who played Johnny’s ill-fated dance partner Penny Johnson, was a brilliant dancer and just as much in the spotlight during her scenes.

Some clever staging saw the orchestra sitting above the stage behind a screen, so the audience could see them playing and appreciate the live music.

Their enthusiasm and that of the cast, who flung each other around the dance floor and up into the air countless times, was infectious.

The audience got into the spirit of things by cheering when key lines came up. One woman singing along made several people around her chuckle. If you’re a fan of Dirty Dancing this is a definite “must see” – it runs until April 5.