Grease

DDOS are BACK at Dorking Halls!  And they’ve performed their first major musical for five years!

The beautiful programme was entertaining and informative, with fine pictures of cast, crew and the rehearsal process.

The set was quite wonderful…a huge jukebox, with stairways at the sides and a gallery. There was more WOW factor as sections opened out to display a bedroom, a party room and a soda fountain. Super props, including the car, were all efficiently handled. The hand-drawn curtains were fun; but a slight niggle was that several people then had trouble exiting to stage right…they had to squeeze sideways. Costumes were varied & colourful and generally of the period.

Lighting was attractive and spot on; and the sound operation ensured that the band didn’t overwhelm the excellent solo numbers. Their position - set high and upstage - assisted the balance; and little glimpses of them enhanced the atmosphere.  The GREASE songs are so well loved, Jamie Cordell’s direction was confident and the music was consistently enjoyable throughout the show.

Sandy (Jess Dunne) and Danny (Ben Hopkins) are the lovers whose on-off-on relationship is mercilessly scrutinised and criticised by everyone. Both sang beautifully, in Summer Nights and You’re the One that I Want. Ben gave a lovely solo performance of Sandy; and Jess’s Hopelessly Devoted to You was crystal clear and glorious.

Joe Halligan, as Doody, gave us Those Magic Changes…with a good intro and great delivery. And then Marty (Lily Porter) sang Freddy My Love to her faraway Marine. Lovely voice and fine accompaniment.

Greased Lightning was a good, fast number from Kenickie and Company, with a slick dance routine. Good strong playing of Kenickie by Brandon J Arnold; and groovy dancing from his date     Cha Cha (Ruth Cheek).

Dan Burns’ Roger totally caught the sounds of the ‘50s with the wonderfully retro Mooning. He and Jan (Meg Richards) created a believable evolving relationship.

It’s Raining on Prom Night was a lovely, wistful song; and Lee Durnford, as Teen Angel, sang another great retro number, Beauty School Dropout, to Frenchie (Holly Bird).

Charlotte Fisher gave Rizzo such strong characterisation. She sang Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee, such a funny number; and later on gave us There are Worse Things…a huge song sung with great emotion.

Excellent comic playing from Samuel Beven, as the not-quite-cool, gentle giant Sonny; geeky Eugene (Jamie McFadden); Emma Bullock’s over-the-top Patty Simcox and Matt Barnett as Putzie. Kimberley Pierce made a super-strict Miss Lynch and Neil Edeson gave life (and a slightly creepy vibe) to Vince Fontaine.

The ensemble team were all very strong. They sang well and performed Lindsay Swift’s attractive routines smoothly and energetically, from Born to Hand-Jive (courtesy of David Tonna’s Johnny Casino) all the way up to We Go Together…and so many more.

This was a very bold project that has worked wonderfully well, thanks in the main to John Harries-Rees’ direction and to producer, Stuart Yeatman. GREASE was an inspired choice…everybody loves it. It attracted stunning new talent (to an already strong group) and enthusiastic audiences.

Thank you for a great evening.

Graham Botterill

© NODA All rights reserved

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.