Grease

Grease debuted as a musical in 1971, followed by its 1978 film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The story centres on Danny, leader of the ‘Greasers’ the T-Birds, and Sandy, who joins the female equivalent the Pink Ladies at their high school after a summer romance. As peer pressure and gang dynamics test their relationship, Sandy tries to change for Danny, highlighted in "You’re The One That I Want."

For such a small stage a lot had to be packed in, including the car ‘Greased Lightning’. Stage Manager Grace Easthope and assistant Nick Gibbs, what a phenomenal job you did, together with your vast ‘choreographed’ crew, moving flats - so cleverly managed. Sam Blackmore’s lighting and Dominic Palmer’s sound enhanced the production. Authentic looking costumes were excellent thanks to Sally Dallosso and her team. It must have taken hours to sew those circular skirts! Choreographers Kerry Payne and Rosie Ellis did not have an easy job with such a large cast so, well done, it worked well. MD Michael Burbidge on keyboard led a band of five other musicians, an amazing sound not overpowering the cast. 

Playing the iconic roles of Danny and Sandy were Ethan Thorne and Polly Whitbread  they made these characters their own and they worked well together – a joy to watch. All the T-Birds gave us the right attitude and mannerisms you would expect of a teenage gang of boys with some great individual characterisations and the same can be said of the Pink Ladies but excelling was Emilia Kavanagh as Rizzo. Emilia has great stage presence showing the contrasting tough and vulnerable side of the character, great vocals as well.

When you get such talented young people on stage who sang, danced and acted with obvious enjoyment it would be impossible to name everybody but rest assured this successful show could not have been possible without you. I know I say this every year but how KHW put on such a polished production in just 2 weeks, which would take an adult company months of work, still amazes me but shows the dedication of everybody involved. 

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