Grease Live on Stage

Drew Anthony Creative presents this tight and slick production of Grease at Planet Royale, a production that has its audience bopping in their seats and leaving with smiles.

Reviewers see Grease often, and having seen conservatively at least twenty productions of Grease, I can confidently say that this one was the most “different” in its feel and execution. Playing against a bright, animated backdrop reminiscent of the opening credits in the film, this production feels more heightened and slightly more tongue in cheek (although there are some performances of depth). There is no ensemble to speak of - apart from two on-stage swings and a single ensemblist, but the cast fill the small stage - the action brought in tightly by the addition of on-stage bleachers filled with audience members. 

There is a great fifties feel thanks to costume design from Dani Paxton and some great wigs from Delia Stanley, with some well-designed lighting from Brock Preston. Working with a top-quality backing track, the cast sing beautifully under the musical supervision of Joe Louis Robinson and the choreography by James and Susie Rolton is of the era and dynamic.

Elaina O’Connor is clearly somehow channelling Olivia Newton-John with this look-alike and sound-alike portrayal of Sandy - lovely to watch. John Rex Berry, still only seventeen years old, gives a convincing, and impressive performance as Danny, and dances up a storm. Charlotte Louise gives us a Rizzo of depth, finding layers in her portrayal despite the snappiness of this show’s pace, playing well opposite Ricky Anderson’s smouldering Kenicke. 

Lovely warmth and sass from the Pink Ladies including Tabitha Kerlin’s consciously sexy Marty, Kate Sisley’s very cute Frenchy and Lisa Michelle’s loveable Jan. Tate Bennett finds oodles of comic moments as Sonny, Get Jarema is strong as Doody (with “Magic Changes” a highlight) and Koert van der Laan an energised Putzie.

Tory Kendrick bounces around the stage beautifully as Patty, Elliot Peacock relishes the characterisation of Eugene and Sophie Dowsett is very believable as “best dancer at St Bernadette’s” Cha Cha, with the “teenage cast” nicely completed by Jack Williams, Charlie Darlington, and Georgia Unsworth.

Lucy Williamson quickly endears herself to the audience as a very relatable Miss Lynch, Blake Williams is perhaps unsurprisingly very at home as radio personality Vince Fontaine, while Peter Cumins is a wonderful Teen Angel - who manages to capture our heart despite the efforts of cartoon angel backing singers to upstage his big moment.

Running without an interval, at around an hour and forty minutes, this is a must see for the many Grease fans out there. A fun and vibrant production. 

Kimberley Shaw