by ROSHAN DOUG
When Grease opened in the cinemas in 1978, it became an instant hit and, subsequently, an iconic movie for my generation, with Travolta, Newton-John et al blending peppy music and dance with sprightly songs and snappy dialogue.
It was written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Cassy and – in a very light-hearted way -illustrated the frustration of coming-of-age teenagers in the 1950s. By reflecting their emotions and hormones in song and dance routines, they also reflected our own.
Of course, as someone with an Indian background, I was used to seeing Bollywood musicals but it was a real novelty to see a Hollywood production with such a cool cast of actors making song and dance hip and fashionable.
So Grease at the Birmingham Hippodrome, took me to that time when I was a teenager in a comprehensive school. For me, the late 1970s was a time innocence, of youth and teenage revelry – everything that this musical is about.
The show is directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, and I - for one - was enthralled by the charged energy of the production.
Firstly, it has a list of (generally) excellent skilled performers who blend acting with singing and dancing. Although I am in no way claiming to be an expert in musical theatre – or anything else for that matter – I couldn’t fault the energy, the vitality and the exuberance that many of the cast members emitted on stage. The dances were near perfect, the pace incredible and synchronicity was just a sheer joy to watch.
I was particularly impressed with Louis Gaunt and Jordan Abey, playing Kenickie and Doody
respectively. Their timing and dance sequences were simply a joy savour. Jessica Croll and Eloise Davies, playing Patty and Frenchy, were also wonderfully magnetic. The cast were brilliant in the school electrifying ‘Hand Jive' contest.
I was also bowled over by the splendid musical arrangement by Neil MacDonald who truly deserves a lot of credit for making this musical come alive.
However, I was less enthused with the leads – Dan Partridge (Danny Zuko) and Martha Kirby (Sandy Dumbrowski). Both of these actors are fair but I don’t think they possess the stuff that their roles demand – though there was an exception to this when Kirby belted out Hopelessly Devoted To You. It received a rapturous - very enthusiastic - applause.
Perhaps these actors could have done with more theatrical experience and practice before taking on such commitment as this musical leads requires.
Peter Andre playing Teen Angel (a role shared with Ore Oduba) was also disappointing. He gave, what can only be described as, a lacklustre performance. It was weak – though you might not have thought this judging from the hysteria of middle aged women screaming and drooling over him.
Personally, I expected a bit more zest, a bit more amplification for there is - in his role - potential for so much comedy. Alas, Andre just settled for a below average performance of Beauty School Dropout - almost as if he thought his mere presence will suffice.
Nevertheless – and having said all that - this is, on the whole, a very good production, one that is definitely worth seeing. My son - who isn’t a big fan of musicals - enjoyed it more than he had imagined. He thought it was great fun, a great laugh.
