You’d be hard pressed to find an Australian who hasn’t attempted ‘Summer Nights’ at karaoke or at least engaged in some ‘Greased Lightnin’’ dance moves. Set in Rydell High School in the 1950’s, strangely this story has resonated with Australians since its first productions outside of America in Melbourne back in 1972.
This new production, making its Australian debut in Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre, is straight from London’s West End, where it’s garnered rave reviews and full houses. John Frost’s Australian production is being referred to as ‘The No.1 Party Musical’. I, however, disagree.
It’s loud, it’s bright and it’s colourful, and it’s full of rock and roll party hits, but sadly for me Grease just missed the mark. The sets are flat and uninspiring, the lighting overdone – at times using strobes just for the sake of it – and as a whole it’s rather twee.
In essence, the plot involves Danny and Sandy finding themselves at the same high school after a short period of ‘Summer Lovin’ over vacation. Danny’s no longer the man she thought he was, though: being seen with a sweet, cardigan wearing girl doesn’t fit with his greaser, T-bird persona. Sandy’s upset, but after various songs and dramas, and a pregnancy scare for Rizzo, a school bully, she realises there’s more to life than being innocent. Sandy dons a skintight outfit, she and Danny confess their love, and everyone else pairs off. But let’s face it, you don’t go to Grease for the narrative, you go for the songs and for this aspect of the production the cast must be given some credit.
Gretel Scarlett epitomizes innocent Sandy, displaying her vocal abilities brilliantly in ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’. Girl gang the Pink Ladies are led strongly by Lucy Maunder as Rizzo, who at numerous points steals the show. Francine Cain as Frenchy again shows us why she’s someone to watch in the musical theatre world, following up her professional debut in Rock of Ages with another stellar performance.
The T-Birds – tough but bumbling ‘too cool for school’ boys – are also played well, with Stephen Mahy’s turn as Kenickie a stand out performance. Rob Mills is an awkward Danny, but it works. The trend of moonlighting celebrities in Australian musicals continues, with Bert Newton playing Vince Fontaine like the true entertainer he is and Anthony Callea’s ‘Born to Hand Jive’ as Johnny Casino a high energy addition. Todd McKenney is a suitably camp Teen Angel, but the scene didn’t have the dream-like, tongue in cheek feeling of early productions, leaving me disappointed.
Chris Durling’s rendition of ‘Those Magic Changes’, accompanied by Rob Mills and the T-Bird ensemble was sublime, allowing the charm of Fifties rock to be finally experienced without the bombardment in what for the most part felt like an overdone rock musical. The Band, under the direction of Stephen Amos, is impressive for a seven piece ensemble but excessive amplification at times detracted from the score.
John Frost had great success in the late Nineties with a Grease arena spectacular, a mode of presentation which may be preferable. Quite simply, I felt I was a little close to the action, and consequently it came across a little too squeaky clean. Costumes looked like costumes, the set looked flat, and props – including Kenickie’s car, Greased Lightnin’ – looked like oversized kids toys. This aside, the majority of the audience left with an obvious spring in their step and reignited passions for what is undoubtedly one of the most popular musicals of all time. In my eyes it just needed a bit more dirt and grease.
Rating: 2 ½ stars out of 5
Grease
Music, lyrics and book by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Presented by John Frost
Cast includes Rob Mills, Gretel Scarlett, Bert Newton, Todd McKenney, Anthony Callea, Lucy Maunder, Stephen Mahy, Francine Cain, Chris Durling, Sam Ludeman, Duane McGregor and Laura Murphy
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane
20 August – October 6
Additional performances:
SYDNEY: Lyric Theatre from Sunday 13 October
MELBOURNE: Her Majesty’s Theatre from Thursday 2 January 2014
greaseistheword.com.au
