Grease

The show opened with gauze displaying the word "Grease," which beautifully revealed the impressive set behind it and immediately captured the audience’s attention. The set design was ingenious; watching the bedroom slide out from the bleachers and unfold like a book into a fully realized scene was truly captivating, and it folded back just as seamlessly. Additional bleachers were easily moved on and off stage, enhancing the fluidity of the production. The coloured lighting strips along the edges of the black legs added a creative touch, smoothly facilitating scene changes. Using box 1 as Vince Fontain’s broadcasting booth was also a standout element. The car scenes were brilliant and the unobtrusive use of crew to move the car would probably not have been noticed by many.

The opening number showcased the talented ensemble as they performed amazing choreography (from Jack Ludwig, Kirsty-May Copeland and guest Choreographer, Matthew Wesley) whilst singing fantastic harmonies.  Indeed, the harmonies were a real treat throughout, and the standard of individual and ensemble singing was extremely high. It was evident that a lot of effort from the musical director Andrew Easton had been put into this production to create such fabulous numbers. The pitch perfect endings to ‘Summer Nights’ and ‘Beauty School Dropout’ were sublime.

While remaining faithful to the original, it's always enjoyable to witness fresh takes on some of the characters; these were understated but impactful. Hari Owen, portraying Danny Zuko, truly embodied the stylised John Travolta archetype. With his slicked-back hair and trademark swagger, he convincingly captured the essence of the not-so-bad boy, and his duets with Sandy were thoroughly charming.

Sandy, portrayed by Evie Jones, embodied the role of the reserved new student, and in the abridged musical adaptation, her character's transformation was notably swift. Evie delivered her musical numbers with impressive skill, I particularly enjoyed her arrangement of ‘Hopelessly Devoted to you’ which was beautifully delivered;  and aside from a less-than-ideal wig in the final scene, she looked fantastic in her finale costume.

Becky Mages was a slightly less aggressive Russo to the film version, but she portrayed the character in a sassy way and gave her all in her rendition of ‘There are worst things I could do’ with a nice arrangement that had all the emotional angst you would expect.

Georgia-Rose Ortel delivered an outstanding performance as Frenchy, clearly enjoying herself while portraying such a beloved character. I loved her pink wig! Georgia-Rose’s timing was impeccable, and she interacted with Sandy and Patty Simcox in a genuinely empathetic way. Meg Merrell played Patty Simcox, capturing perfectly the over-the-top, bothersome traits that make Patty a character people love to dislike. It was refreshing to see someone embrace this role so confidently.

Lucy Thurley brought Marty to life with energetic flair, demonstrating sharp characterisation and an abundance of sass. Her performance of ‘Freddie my Love’ was notably mature and delivered flawlessly. The intense exchanges with Vince Fontain were handled admirably, especially since such scenes can be challenging.

Ace Price delivered a hilarious performance as Jan, bringing excellent comedic timing and coming across as effortlessly natural and at ease on stage. The casting of the Pink Ladies was also spot on.

Trafford Irvine was a good Kenickie, and his dancing skills were evident throughout. I did want him to be a little more bullish, but this didn’t detract from his performance. He was confident in his acting and singing which the character required.

Isaac Culshaw was probably one of my favourite characters and Isaac’s portrayal of Doody didn’t disappoint. I thought he was perfect and I absolutely loved his songs ‘Those Magic Changes’ and duet with Roger ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Queen’, the harmonies which were outstanding.

Oscar Reid, portraying Roger, and Kaid Monaghan, as Sonny, delivered consistent performances as fellow T-Birds, effectively contributing comedic elements throughout the production. Ava Smith took on the role of Cha-Cha, participating in the dance competition featuring the hand jive, which was executed flawlessly by all involved. It is noteworthy that Ava displayed considerable professionalism in performing complex choreography, including moments where Danny lifted her during the dance sequence.

Zac Abbott brought both maturity and a playful sense of self-parody to his performances as Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel. He delivered plenty of laughs, portrayed each character convincingly, and showcased an impressive singing voice.

Moving on to the cameo roles, Breanne Burton delivered an outstanding performance as Miss Lynch—she was genuinely intimidating, especially in her scenes with Sonny. Elliot Siwicki gave a delightful take on Johny Casino, truly standing out during the school dance sequence. I thoroughly enjoyed his interpretation of this smaller part.

Owen Sykes delivered an outstanding performance as Eugene. His comedic timing and charisma were so engaging that he commanded my full attention throughout. Owen’s exceptional talent for characterisation made his portrayal of Eugene incredibly precise and convincing.

The audience thoroughly enjoyed this lively and dynamic production, leaving the event in great spirits. Congratulations to LTA on delivering another exceptional performance.

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