Mayflower Theatre, Southampton- until 2 November 2024
Reviewed by Lorna Hancock
4****
Most people know Grease from the 1978 movie, the iconic and much adored love story of Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John). However, this stage production directed by Nikolai Foster, goes back to the original much grittier 1971 book by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs.
After growing up with the film version and being a very big fan of it, to be completely honest, I’m not one hundred percent sure exactly how I feel about this production. It takes away the rose-tinted view, of American adolescence in the 50s that the film portrays. Personally I don’t feel the characters are as likeable. The T-Birds revert back to the original much edgier “Burger Palace Boys’ carrying guns and weapons. The lecherous ways of Zuko (Marley Fenton) and Kenickie (Ben Nicholas) certainly took any romance out of the story. I actually found myself slightly disappointed that Sandy gave her self up for Danny at the end.
The story, set in Chicago is much rougher than the Paramount Movie. It looks more at the ups and downs of the relationships of all of the characters, rather than focusing on Danny and Sandy, which makes the storyline slightly different. The placement of the songs has changed which felt peculiar when knowing the film so well. There was also the addition of a few lesser known songs from the original.
Although an interesting lesson into the history of the musical, I found myself getting slightly hung up, on the differences between what I was watching and something I know and love so much. I think the only way to look at this is not to compare it, but to think of it as a completely different production.
The set, with its gym equipment and lockers, encapsulated the feel of an 1950s American high school. It transports you back to the grit and grind of Chicago, to hang out with the Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys.
The cast as a whole are extremely talented with remarkable vocals, excellent characterisation and perfectly coordinated choreography. With Joe Gash playing a superb Vince Fontaine (and Teen Angel) he really links the whole show together.
The stand out thing for me in this performance, had to be the fabulous choreography by Arlene Phillips. It was eye-catching throughout the show, and was spectacularly showcased during the Hand Jive at the School dance.
Overall, this may not have been what I expected, but it is a brilliant production in it’s own right. The songs that we are all so fond of are impressively performed, with an interesting education into the origins of the musical.