Theatre Royal Nottingham – until Saturday 21 August 2021
Reviewed by Louise Ford
4****
I got chills…
This week’s show at the Theatre Royal is another musical classic, Grease (Directed by Nikolai Foster), all high school anx ,rivalry, peer pressure, rock and roll, cars and a bit of education thrown in for good measure.
A coming of age story which starts, appropriately enough, at the end of a long hot summer of beaches and summer love (well we can all dream!), when the mismatched summer lovers Sandy (Georgia Louise) and Danny (Dan Partridge) start back at Rydell High, under the watchful eye of Miss Lynch (Corina Powlesland)
The original book, music and lyrics was written, in 1971, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey and draws heavily on the rock and roll of the 1950s. The current staging remains true to the fashion and hairstyles (cue back combing that DA) of the era. The show and song lyrics are more gritty and raunchy than you may remember from the film version ( made in 1978). Think pelvic thrusting and grinding, as well as teenage pregnancy, gang violence and class conflict. The story inverts the norm of the girl taming her man and instead the girl is transformed into a wild (male?) fantasy.
One of the funniest songs and duos, that didn’t make it into the film, is that between Rump and Jan (Maeve Byrne), the song titled Mooning celebrates his skill at, well, mooning at girls,”I guess I’ll keep striking poses. Until my cheeks have lost their roses”! Trust me is was hilarious! They make a lovely pairing of chubbiness and snacking!
The stage (Colin Richmond), is nicely pared back and easily changes from the beach, Rydell High cafeteria ,the garage, back alley and bedroom, with minimal effort. The set easily divides in two for the early rendition of Summer Nights, tell me more,tell me more! All of the great familiar songs, in a slightly different order to the film, ( you’ll be word perfect, as the Nottingham audience were last night) are there, with some wonderful ensemble dance routines (choreographed by Arlene Phillips) lots of energy, hand jiving (Born to Hand Jive) and pelvic thrusts.
My only gripe is that my favourite song “Grease Lightening” wasn’t on for long enough, although it is included in the finale mash up, which was a lot of fun. The audience were on their feet singing and clapping away, sadly not enough room for any jiving in the aisles maybe just enough space for a bit of pelvic thrusting!
The stand out performance for me was Peter Andre. He has reprised his 2019 role as both Vince Fontaine and the Teen Angel. In some performances he is also the Beat Cop. So some rapid costume changes! He’s on stage nearly all the time, from his eyrie record studio looking down on the unfolding action, to the heavenly (are there any other kind) Teen Angel giving career advice to Frenchie (Marianna Neofitou), to the iconic rock n’roll legend Vince Fontaine judging the dance competition. The choreography for Beauty School Drop Out is wonderfully camp all white suits, sunnies, and glittery wings. As Vince Fontaine he is working the full leopard print (think Cat from Red Dwarf) zoot suit and brothel creepers. He’s full of energy and is clearly enjoying the role, and manages to do the splits!
All in all a great evening’s entertainment, so Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys grab your jackets, comb through that grease and get on down to the Royal for a nostalgic evening of Rock and Roll!” It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s what you do with your dancing shoes”, Vince Fontaine.