Grease (UK Touring)

Firmly in that genre of classic and widely loved shows is the archetypal High School Musical (from well before the one of that name existed), it’s the word ‘Grease’. Probably not immediately obvious is the fact that the stage musical debuted in Chicago during 1971 some six years before John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John donned the guises of Danny and Sandy on the movie screen.

It’s interesting to note that Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote a far more aggressive and profane show, which bears little resemblance outside of storyline to that now regularly touring to packed houses.

So Danny and Sandy meet at the beach during summer vacation, however when they meet again at school Danny is no longer the guy Sandy thought she knew, due mainly to feeling the need to act ‘cool’ in front of his gang friends from the T Birds. Tom Parker (of The Wanted) brings youthful exuberance and some great dance moves to the role of Danny and Danielle Hope is the closest I have seen to Ms Newton-John as Sandy with some stunning vocals and a naive charm as she attempts to fit in as a Pink Lady.

Louisa Lytton revels in the role of Rizzo with some cutting looks and one-liners and is joined by beauty school drop-out Rhiannon Chesterman as Frenchy, Lauren Atkins as man-eater Marty and Rosanna Harris as bouncy, fun loving Jan to make an eclectic mix within the Pink Ladies.

Tom Senior pulls out a great performance and top rendition of ‘Greased Lightning’ as Kenickie, Ryan Heenan is a highly likeable and smoothly voiced Doody, Michael Cortez a self-confident and comic Sonny and Oliver Jacobson as Roger (Rump, including a great performance of ‘Mooning’) makes-up the full line-up of T-Birds.

In the dual role of ‘The Main Brain’ Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel is a spritely and energetic George Olney (the ‘Beauty School Drop-Out’ scene is a highlight of the performance) and Ailsa Davidson disguises her true beauty as Principal Miss Lynch.

Not always seen as serious characters but, are seriously good performances in this production, mention must be given to Callum Evans as geeky Eugene and (at this performance) Natasha Mould as do-gooder Patty, both great characters and dancers.

Directed by David Gilmore and choreographed by the legend that is Arlene Phillips what can not be good about this revival of Grease. Pretty much nothing is the answer and this is simply a thoroughly entertaining night out so it has to be the one you’ll want, only running until 31st December 2017 though.

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