Grease the Musical

Many believe the musical Grease came to life in the hugely popular 1978 film starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, however writers and lyricists Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey first staged a version of the musical in Chicago in 1971, before diluting its content for Broadway release in 1972.

Grease follows the story of Danny and Sandy and their short summer romance. It is rekindled when Sandy originally from Australia does not return home, but instead begins the school year at Rydell High, home of the T-Birds of which Danny is the leader. This sparks a narrative about identity, expectations and teenage angst. Although some dialogue lends itself to a 1950s framework and would be considered anti-woke by today’s standards; to change it would be detrimental to its charm.

Director Luke Joslin had the gruelling task of breathing new life into a well-known musical that has garnered a new audience decade after decade. With the help of talented creatives, there is a mix of nostalgia and nuance, that seemed to satisfy a vocal crowd. The band were loud, with changes to some musical arrangements adding a freshness to old favourites.

The stage housed a rotating platform, that allowed for flawless set changes. A monochromatic palate was given colour through costumes. Although each character had their own “tribe”, each costume had its individual flair whilst remaining true to the “rockabilly” style. Adding to the overall vibe was creative lighting design Trudy Dalgleish.

Many recognisable names took on smaller roles, Patti Newton as Miss Lynch earned loud applause as she made her entrance; her performance was delightful. Jay Laga’aia as Vince Fontaine was superb in his vocals, culminating in the number “Born to Hand Jive”. Paulini delivers a star turn as Teen Angel, with vocal arrangements highlighting her range.

Lead roles of Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski were played by Fabian Andres and Annelise Hall respectively. Both gave strong performances but lacked chemistry in key moments. It was near impossible not to make comparisons to the 1978 film. What this production did not lack was energy. The ensemble cast were fabulous, as was the innovative choreography by Eric Giancola. Pink ladies and T-Birds were cast beautifully, offering up sass and comic relief. Mackenzie Dunn took on the role of Rizzo with aplomb, her characterisation was superb. Dunn’s rendition of “There are Worse Things I Could Do”, brought the house down. Kenickie was given life by Keanu Gonzalez and he along with ensemble cast made “Grease Lightning” a showstopper.

Encore performances gave an already standing audience a chance to dance and sing their way through the show’s favourites. Paulini appeared centre stage with cast to sing the show’s namesake. It was a wonderful way to end an incredible evening, proving that even after 50 years, “Grease” is still the word.

Kerry Cooper

Photographer: Jeff Busby