Hall for Cornwall, Truro, Cornwall – until 27 July 2024
Reviewed by Kerry Gilbert
4****
‘Grease really is the word! Don’t miss out on this energetic performance which was full of nostalgia’
It’s 1959 and the Burger Palace Boys (T-Birds in the film) and Pink Ladies return to Rydell High School in this production of Grease at The Hall for Cornwall. Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions has produced an incredible show that is an absolute must watch.
Grease is so iconic a musical, it really needs no introduction. It tells the story of Danny and Sandy who meet on a beach and spend the summer together before bumping into each other in school. Danny suffers ridicule for his crush on a ‘good girl’, destroying his ‘cool bad boy’ image. It’s arguably grittier than the film though, and you get a much more distinct feel for the rawness of working-class kids floundering through the awkwardness of adolescence, struggling to work out their identities, their place in life, and what they want from it.
If you’re a Grease fan, then you’re going to love it, the only challenge I found was resisting the urge to sing along to the songs you love.
The quality of the singing elevated the show with many standout moments. The leads Marley Fenton and Hope Dawe playing Danny and Sandy, gave fantastic vocal performances. From the electrifying ‘Grease is the Word’ to the poignant ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’, each number showcased excellent vocals paired with dynamic choreography. Marley portrays Danny’s multifaceted personality well, smoothly transitioning from putting on a hardman front to showing his softer side in scenes with just Sandy. Marley and Hope’s voices pair well together in their duet of ‘You’re the One That I Want’.
The Burger Palace Boys are Kenickie (George Michaelides), Sonny (Sario Solomon), Roger (Lewis Day), and Doody (Kieran Lynch) who all embody their characters superbly. Together, they present a fun and energetic performance of ‘Greased Lightnin’ led by Kenickie (with a car centre stage, of course).
Kieran has wonderfully smooth vocals throughout, with his rendition of ‘Those Magic Changes’ being a vocal highlight. He also captures the awkward energy of his character with the right level of humour whilst still being endearing.
Rizzo (Rebecca Stenhouse) is the one who gives everyone goosebumps with her rendition of ‘There are Worse Things I Could Do’, and Frenchy (Alicia Belgarde) gives us a superb performance as a bewildered Beauty School Dropout. Marty (India Chadwick) and Jan (Emerald B) also formed part of the Pink Ladies, bringing energy to the stage.
Joe Gash playing Vince Fontaine was brilliantly funny, he delivered a strong performance and showcases strong vocals.
The production value is outstanding, the set is framed like a high school gym with scene/song transitions featuring Vince Fontaine’s radio show to combat the dead-air feeling many shows face during changes.
It is clear how much everyone enjoyed being on the stage and that rubbed off on the audience. Grease The Musical absolutely raised the roof at the Hall for Cornwall, concluding with a hearty Megamix sing-a-thon with a standing ovation and was the perfect conclusion to a wonderful night out!