Grease

After 50-plus years in NODA Member Societies, I have often heard, at ‘show-choosing meetings’ the comment “but it’s too soon!” because a suggestion for a show is deemed to have been too recently performed, thereby reducing the potential ticket sales. Not so with Pantheon, which after almost exactly two years re-presented “Grease” in the King’s, with some cast changes but the same production team. Nine performances in five days, culminating in two on Sunday, resulted in record-breaking box office for this club, often a leader in the variety of its productions. Vicki Robertson and Gary Bennet again played Sandy and Danny, with Jeni Mills taking on the rôle of Rizzo.  Heather Quinn (Frenchy) was joined this time by Eve Thomson (Jan) and Marina Kelman (Marty) as the main ‘Pink Ladies’, while a reprise from Mark Long (Kenickie) and Michael Reilly (Doody) meant a new gang member in Kris Morrison as Sonny. Elaine Wilkie (Miss Lynch) gave her usual polished performance in this updated production, outshining even the 2014 offering.  Susie Thompson McMahon (ChaCha), and Lawrernce Sharkey (Johnny Casino) showed Chris S-W’s choreographic expertise, and Drew McCusker (Fontaine), Johnny Collins (Teen Angel), Michael McClorey (Eugene) and Clare Ryan (Patty) were the other named principals. The un-named principals (aka the chorus/ensemble) of fellow college students etc., kept up the high standards in this show, well moved and sung.  With two further shows in 2016 and a main feature already booked for 2017, Pantheon goes from strength to strength.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.