The toned-down 1978 film incarnation of raunchy, risqué, R-rated early-70s Broadway show Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, has pervaded the popular culture so deeply that, for many, it became the word on Grease. John Frost and Crossroads Live’s new Australian production, directed by Luke Joslin, takes all the iconic moments from the film, like ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’, and the finale choreography, but brings back the cigarettes, booze, hip thrusting and adult humour. It is now a show for people who loved the movie, but also for people who did not; and maybe not for kids.
Before the curtain lifts Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s iconic musical, 50s themed projections flicker across a cinematic screen that has white borders, like frames of a comic book. Luke Joslin’s vision, brought to life with the aid of James Browne’s set, costumes and wigs, and Eric Gianocola’s choreography, is burger-joint thick shake which blends 50s imagery, with monochromatic sets inspired by the architecture of the time, and moves from the movie, like the ‘Grease Lightning’ pointing fingers, with the contemporary: Bring It On cheerleader outfits, flossing dance moves. Giant white bleacher rotate and split apart, sometimes between scenes and often during them, as the ensemble dance alongside the giant moving structures. These sets are blank canvases on which Browne’s kaleidoscopic costumes and the colourful characters paint the picture.
While the movie is all about John and Olivia, and maybe Rizzo, the musical gives the entire school yard a chance to earn good grades: songs like Marty’s (Rose Shannon-Duhigg) ‘Freddy My Love’ and Roger “Rump’s” (Oliver Lacey) ‘Mooning’ were too blue for the movie, maybe, but were unexpected comedic highlights. Rizzo (Mackenzie Dunn), Kenickie (Keanu Gonzalez) and Frenchy (Catty Hamilton) bring the attitude and the laughs, while Fabian Andres as Danny and Annelise Hall as Sandy excel at surmounting the most difficult task: playing characters that come with such pre-conceived expectations, while bringing freshness to them. Both Fabian and Annelise have more than just hints of John and Olivia in their voices, yet it never seems like an impersonation or karaoke.
Australian productions of Grease have often relied on star power in the leads: Craig McLachlan, Millsy, Natalie Bassingthwaite. This production does feature Patti Newton, Jay Laga’aia, and Paulini as Teen Angel, who all deliver in their roles, but the chassis of this hot rod is the accomplished young cast. Laga’aia’s casting as the 19-year-old Vince Fontaine is a little questionable; especially given his character hits on Matty at the school dance, but maybe this was intentional. Sometimes, the moving parts of the scene changes are not very seamless, but this show bursts with such energy and talent that all his forgiven.
Grease the Musical was meant to be a tale of subversion: of Danny’s leather jacket rebellion defiling the blonde-haired apple pie purity of Sandy. This new production is a much greasier Grease, a guilty pleasure, like a whopping burger.
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