The adage that “the old ones are the best” fits perfectly with the fast-moving and slick Grease The Musical.
First made famous in 1978 when John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John wowed with their sugar coated love story, the happy tale and vibrant music are just as relevant today.
The stage show has been adapted, but with choreography by former Strictly star Arelene Phillips and a fabulous set, costumes and tunes, the production has all the ingredients for a good night out.
Stopping off at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow until Saturday, it’s a real mood riser. Telling the story of teenage girls and boys growing up and experiencing love, life and losses, it centres on Rydell High School where leather clad confident Danny (Ben Middleton) and new girl Sandy (Hope Dawe) who find themselves together again following a whirlwind summer romance.
Peer pressure sees them fall out and go their separate ways, but true love brings them back together again, but not before lots of ups and downs.
Director Nikolai Foster has made subtle changes to the original story with the guys now The Burger Boys instead of The T Birds and real life is the mainstay.
Sandy’s gang The Pick Ladies is made up of friends Betty Rizzo (Rebecca Stenhouse), Frenchy (Alicia Belgarde), Jan (Emerald B) and Marty (India Chadwick) and Danny’s joined by Kenickie (George Michaelides), Doody (Kieran Lynch) and Roger (Lewis Day).
Actor Josh Gash has a fun time as the record spinning Vince Fontaine and smaller parts are played by Jayd’n Tyrone (Eugene), Phoebe Roberts (Patty Simcox), Dominique Planter (Miss Lynch), Deena Kapadia (Cha Cha) and Adam Davidson (Johnny Casino).
The ensemble is made up of Sergi Ibanez, Imogen Malone, Carly Miles (who doubles as the resident choreographer), Zera Malvina Aitken, Lauren Kate Hampton, Thomas Inge and Dylan Gordon-Jones.
It’s a bright and colourful show, but in reality, it’s all about the tunes and musical director Charles Ingles hits the right button with 12 toe tappers in each half from favourites Summer Nights to Grease Lightning. Loud and brash and enough to get the Glasgow crowd up and dancing along in the aisles!
Grease runs at The Kings Theatre until Saturday 22nd June, before moving to Edinburgh from 25th to 29th June and onto Aberdeen from 2nd to 6th July. It then heads to Birmingham from 15th to 20th July, finishing up at The Lyceum in Sheffield on 16th November 2024. For more information and for ticket availability, please visit www.atgtickets.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family
Photographs by Marc Brenner
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