You could feel the buzz around this show, even before the lights went down. A packed house, some dressed in T-Bird and Pink Ladies jackets, gave massive cheers before the band had played their first note. You could taste the anticipation! And feel the love for this original high school musical as we settled into our seats.
Grease is the most iconic of shows. We root for holiday sweethearts Danny and Sandy and their friends as they try to navigate the high and lows of being a teenager in 1950s America. Is it possible to be cool and popular – and also find true love? The songs are unforgettable, the costumes are classics. Expectations were running high.
Right from the very start this dynamic cast ran on with energy and enthusiasm, colourful costumes and Imogen Bailey’s stirring choreography. They literally filled the theatre! The on-stage orchestra belted out hit after hit all evening – Summer Nights, We Go Together – and I found it impossible not to (quietly) sing along.
Alfie Luke as Danny was great casting – funny and cool as always, but also weak and cowardly at times. In fact, the character twists from fragile to strong were a strength of this production, reflecting the real teenager experience. Sandy, sweetly played by Lottie Paine in the first act, showed real grit and determination in Act 2 as she sang “Hopelessly Devoted to You” with a strength and a soul that Olivia Newton-John never achieved. In contrast, Enid Rees as Rizzo was tough as nails and ruled the school in Act 1, but her Rizzo in the second act possessed a fragility which reduced many in the audience to tears. Enid is a magnificent interpreter of lyrics – her rendition of “There are Worst Things I could Do” had us all spellbound. Again, even better than the blockbuster film.
The famous “Teen Angel” scene absolutely brought the house down. I’ve been privileged to watch Jacob Bailey on stage at King’s Theatre, Southsea last year (as Augustus Gloop and Dick Whittington’s Cat) but in Shanklin his Elvis lips and hips, sequins and wings were even bigger comedy gold. Frenchy (a cute Daisy Parker) had no chance of doing anything but following orders and going back to high school after that number!
The groups of teens – Pink Ladies and T-Birds – put in brilliant comedic performances which made that difficult task seem easy. Jan (Ruby Clarke) was kooky and fun, Patty (Macie Edkin-Wherry) was bossy and athletic, and Marty (Ava Cowan) was flirty and confident, with leading lady vibes throughout the whole of act 1. Charismatic Vince Fontaine (Rafe Hodge-Thomas) and long suffering headteacher Miss Lynch (Olivia Pike) tried to control the situation but were overpowered by the energy of the teens of Rydell High. We all have a soft-spot for the T-Birds – played both cool and silly in equal measure by Jake Eastman, Miles Harvey, George Sales – and Rafferty Moore’s nerdy Eugene raised that role to even greater heights. Tom Thorne’s Kenickie was the coolest guy on stage. His commanding performance standing on the car in “Greased Lightning” – accompanied by the audience clapping along – showed that he is a real ‘triple threat’. The Island’s stage is not going to keep him for much longer.
Curtain Call Creative have done it again. Led by maestro Andrew Woodford and Abigail Hennings, and ably directed by Tony Wright, this production of Grease is the One that we all Want. My only criticism: kids today have no idea how to smoke a cigarette convincingly on stage. And that’s absolutely no criticism at all. Grab a seat if you can!
Reviewed by Vix Lowthian
IWtheatre 