Grease: The Musical - Capitol Theatre (NSW)

Book, Music & Lyrics by Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey

Reviewed by Claira Prider

Capitol Theatre, Haymarket, Sydney

Until June 1st, 2024

Tickets: https://greasemusical.com.au/tickets/sydney/

Grease is a highly entertaining, nostalgic and wickedly fun theatre experience that continues to be the one that audiences want

First performed in a Chicago basement theatre in 1971, Grease the Musical follows a handful of working-class teenagers in 1950s Chicago, navigating peer pressure, teen pregnancy, youth rebellion and gang violence. After test runs of the original production weren’t well received with New York audiences, a new production team adapted the work (toning down much of the vulgarity and profanities) to the staged Grease we’re familiar with today. The show went on to be the longest running production on Broadway at the time and had great impact on US and global youth pop culture, not the least amplified by the John Travolta and Olivia Newton John starring film.

A large screen hangs down in place of a stage curtain with GREASE projected onto it. As the stage lights go up, the screen turns and we see Sandy (Annelise Hall) and Danny (Joseph Spanti) standing on a balcony, singing and flirting, silhouetted against a colourful sunset. Inspired by the graphic art aesthetic with large shapes and clean lines akin to the contemporary architecture of 1950s America, James Browne’s set and costume design reflect a pop art, comic book-esque, cartoonishly bold style. Trudy Dagleish’s dazzling lighting design is enhanced by projections onto white rigid backdrop screens. During the school dance scene, as well as on the performers, coloured lights shine onto a mirrored disco ball suspended above the audience and showers every surface of the theatre in rainbow flickers of light.

The Australian cast of GREASE. Images by Jeff Busby.

The large set structures are wheeled on and off stage and rotated to expose different settings such as bedroom, diner and school dance. Whilst versatile and making good use of the stages revolve, the set changes are clunky and there are scene endings that could benefit from a blackout to give it a moment to breathe.

Eric Giancola’s high energy choreography combines the contemporary with era specific movements that utilises the stage’s different levels. The ensemble’s dancing brilliance reinforces the cartoonish element of the show, in that their spacing and movements are so perfectly executed it looks like it could be a computerised animation. While there were lots of individualistic performances from the chorus, it works well with the teenaged characterisations, and they consistently executed tight ensemble performances.

All leading role performances on opening night at Capitol Theatre were vocally beautiful but the vast majority were lacking in emotional connection. Led by Spanti and Hall as Danny and Sandy, the now almost-caricature outlines of these famous characters came at a cost to their true humanity. Going in, we know the work (now reaching half a century in age) presents a number of outdated and damaging stereotypes around gender, class, and race. Regardless of these flaws, tickets still sell, and audiences still love the work - which is why I think it’s even more important to focus on the characters humanity and relatability.

...entertaining, nostalgic and wickedly fun...

Mackenzie Dunn brings the emotional and authentic humanity the audience is aching for in the role of Rizzo. The almost minute long applause after her piece ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’ reflects the audiences' appreciation for the all-consuming, emotionally gripping and engaging performance. As Rizzo’s love interest Kenickie, Keanu Gonzelez’s physicality brilliantly encapsulates the teenaged self-conscious yet egotistical horniness of the character, matched by strong chemistry and excellent singing. The other moving and mesmerising number of the night comes from Marcia Hines as Teen Angel. Her warm, lush tone and grounded stage presence draws us into Teen Angel’s world as she is supported by a magical chorus of angels dressed in white and sparkly outfits, a truly spectacular scene.

Musical Director Dave Skelton leads the nine-piece band expertly executing the disco-rock'n'roll score with special mention going to the saxophonist(s) who absolutely (to be blunt) slayed the horn solos. A highlight of the evening was during the encore when the entire cast performed a medley of all of the bangers we know and love. The performers were so relaxed and enjoyable to watch and made the most incredible and uplifting sound.

While the band, costumes and lighting do a lot of the heavy lifting, John Frost and Crossroads Live's Australian production of Grease is a highly entertaining, nostalgic and wickedly fun theatre experience that continues be the one that audiences want.

CAST

Joseph Spanti. DANNY ZUKO

Annelise Hall SANDY DUMBROWSKI

Mackenzie Dunn. BETTY RIZZO

Keanu Gonzalez. KENICKIE

Brianna Bishop. MARTY

WITH

Patti Newton. MISS LYNCH

Jay Laga’aia. VINCE FONTAINE

Marcia Hines. TEEN ANGEL

Tom Davis. DOODY

Catty Hamilton. FRENCHY