Grease

Piccadilly Theatre: 27th March 2008: 7.30pm

Grease has been revived for its current incarnation by the reality TV show, Grease is the word.

What’s it about?
Set in 1955, Grease is the tale of love between ultra hip T-Bird Danny and the sweet hearted Sandy.

What’s good?
The play is fun family entertainment; the audience were clearly less interested in the play itself and more interested in seeing the stars of the TV show.
The support cast assert themselves firmly in the production, holding it up as best as they can. Particular mention goes to Richard Hardwick and Laurie Scarth as Roger and Jan respectively, who perform with an underlying sweetness and genuine affection for each others characters.

What’s bad?
This incarnation of Grease has been re- written for a more family friendly audience the producers clearly assuming that the audience for Grease will be less fans of the play, but more fans of the TV show. As a result the show has been cut down to a pantomime-esque tribute to the original material, with all the sex and bad language of the original removed. Susan McFadden performs her best possible Olivia Newton John impersonation but brings nothing else to the role of Sandy. Danny Bayne on the other hand, does possess a star quality, which becomes apparent when he dances, the rest of the time however, his talent is shown to be painfully raw and incapable of leading a West End cast.

Overall
At a time when West End theatre has some of the best musical productions in the world on its door step, you would be wasting your money on seeing Grease as, although an entertaining show, is as empty as a theatrical performance can get.