"I carried a watermelon"
On Friday 4 August, underneath a starry night sky, over a thousand people huddled together to sit in front of what appeared to be a one sided bouncy castle and watch one of life's greatest gifts: Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s on screen (sizzling) chemistry. Yes, Clumber Park was playing host to Derby Quad’s Summer Night’s Outdoor Film Festival, and Dirty Dancing was on the menu.
We were advised to arrive at around 7pm to find somewhere to settle down and get ready for the film.
As hordes of people began to arrive with sun loungers, duvets and picnic baskets, it soon became apparent that we were ill-equipped for the experience that lay ahead. Between the two of us, we brought one blanket to sit on, one chocolate bar to share and a flask of tea. Nonetheless, we made full use of the facilities that were available to us, and loaded up on the free samples of Lambrini.
After an hour or so of settling in and sipping on luke-warm tea, we began to wonder when the film might start. An overhead speaker announced that the film would start thirty minutes after sundown, so not only were we greatly unprepared, we were there super early, too. But, there was free entertainment on hand in the form of The Rock Choir, who offered their very East Midlands version of Uptown Girl, accompanied by some beautiful choreography. Cue jazz hands.
Eventually, after many, many moons had passed, great mountains had risen and fallen, and the rivers had at last run dry, the sweet, sweet sound of Be My Baby by The Ronettes filled our ears, and that classic sultry, black and white dancing burst onto the enormous screen. The magic hit us in that moment. I was ready for my summer of romance at Kellerman’s, and by the sound of things, so was everyone else. It was as though Swayze himself had walked into Clumber Park and given us all a lap dance; you could practically hear the tingling ovaries. The lady sat behind us got so over joyed during the opening credits that she actually fell off her chair and at one point screamed “Come on Patrick!”
Dirty Dancing is an absolute classic; with a killer soundtrack, some very questionable acting and an onscreen chemistry so sizzling it burned straight through me. Although it’s quite possibly my twentieth time watching the film, and I know every single word, the sheer delight being swept off your feet again and again and seeing the sense of nostalgia it brings people makes me smile every time. My grans wise words “They don't make ‘em like they used too” never sounder truer. I don't think there’s many movies that have a whole crowd swinging their bra over their head just to see a man in Cuban hooves wiggle his hips.
Every Sharon, Linda and Pamela was there to join our Baby; the girl who is one of us, in defying all the odds by bringing the rich and poor together through the power of love and excellent dance moves. A very amusing and beautiful night all round. Next time we’ll be more prepared and take the biggest, warmest coats we own. But despite the cold, we won’t be putting Summer Nights in the corner anytime soon.
Check out the Derby Quad website for full listings of their Summer Nights Outdoor Cinema events.
Summer Nights Outdoor Cinema website
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