Grease - The Musical
'Grease' is still very much 'the word'.
Norwich Theatre
Back in 1978, 'Grease' became the highest grossing musical film of all time. Later overshadowed (in pure box office terms) by cinematic blockbusters like 'Mamma Mia', 'Frozen' and 'The Lion King', songs from 'Grease' remain, to this day, part of the soundtrack of the late 70's. The story of Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson's summer romance, and their reunion at Rydell High School, is ingrained in our collective memories. And yet, how many of us knew that 'Grease' was conceived as a stage musical seven years earlier? Set in 1959, and written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, the world was first introduced to Danny, Sandy, Rizzo, Kinickie and Frenchy at Kingston Mines nightclub in Chicago, back in 1971.
Now, 53 years later, Norwich hosts Rydell High, as 'Grease- The Musical' finally arrives in our city. And what a spectacle it is! From the opening Prologue, where Danny and Sandy steal an end-of-summer kiss on a lakeside beach, to a joyous collective sing-a-long Megamix at the very end, this is a show that brings memories flooding back, whilst enthralling a whole new generation.
Directed by Nikolai Foster from Curve, Leicester, and with choreography by the legend that is Arlene Phillips, the show perfectly pulls songs together perfectly from the original stage musical, mixes them with those written specially for the movie, and takes the action back to 1959 Chicago with the Pink Ladies and the Bowling Palace Boys collectively rocking on down. Even Kenickie's beloved battered old car, 'Greased Lightning' makes a sparky appearance on stage.
With Colin Richmond’s scenic design and costumes spectacularly lit by Ben Cracknell, and with an off-stage band led by Charlie Ingles, the stage is set for an exhilarating ride, with songs like 'Grease Is The Word, and 'Summer Nights' lighting up Act 1, and 'You're The One at I Want' delivering a massive dopamine boost as we approach the finale.
The entire cast bring this show to life – the singing and the harmonies are pitch perfect, and the dancing is both energetic and brilliantly synchronised. To pick out individual performances is rather unfair. Marley Fenton plays it sensitive, but tough, as Danny Zuko, and perfectly partners Hope Dawe, who is making her professional debut as Sandy - her 'Hopelessly Devoted to You' is an absolute show-stealer. Another highlight follows later in Act 2 when Rebecca Stenhouse, as Betty Rizzo, knocks out a show-stopping, and revelatory, 'There Are Worse Things I Could Do'. And congratulations to Joe Gash, whose endless energy as DJ Vince Fontaine keeps the entire show, and the hand jive competition, filled with zest and zeal.
From the beachside opening on the beach in Michigan, to the sing-a-long Megamix at the very end, 'Grease' very much remains 'the word'.
