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★★★★
Grease is the word in Canterbury this week, with the arrival of the UK and Ireland tour of the musical, which is directed by Leicester Curve Artistic Director Nikolai Foster and choreographed by the legendary Dame Arlene Phillips. I was fortunate enough to see the show on opening night at the Marlowe Theatre and was intrigued to see how the musical would fare in 2024. With the stage version inspiring the timeless movie musical of the same name, it is reasonable to say that ‘Grease’ is a household name and my expectations were high, given the cultural impact of the film. I am pleased to report that this touring production is an exciting and nostalgic trip down memory lane courtesy of Danny (Marley Fenton), Sandy (Hope Dawe) and the Rydell High gang.
Musical performances
For me, it is the music which makes ‘Grease’ span generations and in this version, there is plenty of room for strong vocal performances. None more so than Sandy’s rendition of ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’, Danny’s ‘Sandy’ and Rizzo’s ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’ (Rebecca Stenhouse). The sound is a little overwhelming in the group numbers with the energetic choreography and impactful band overpowering the vocals slightly, but the decision to open up the orchestra pit and drop some of the front row seating takes the score to new heights. In recent times the film’s megamix recording has been stamped in our memories and it is wonderful to see a full band approach the orchestrations, adding some increased musicality.
Charismatic choreography
The choreography is quite literally ‘electrifying’, with the company bringing infectious energy to Arlene Phillips’ steps. ‘Greased Lightnin’ and ‘Born To Hand Jive’ are two musical numbers where the dancers utterly shine, working in harmony to create highly varied sequences. In terms of standout dance performances, Marley Fenton (Danny) and Deena Kapadia (Cha Cha) are sensational during the school dance scene and you can’t keep your eyes off their athletic skills and the mesmerising lifts.
Theatrical version versus the film
As somebody who adores the film and grew up with it, even with the original musical predating the movie, it is really difficult not to compare some of the iconic moments. On the whole I enjoyed Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s book, thrilled to see a balance between dialogue and the renowned songs. It is also creatively staged, utilising various moveable set pieces to showcase the vast number of Rydell High locations and making the most of performance space. The ‘Summer Nights’ scene is a brilliant example of this, with the Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies on opposite sides.
That being said, there are also multiple differences which took me a little by surprise. Firstly, ‘We Go Together’ is initially performed at the end of act one and for me, this song evokes the spirit of togetherness at the end of the story. The track feels out of place in its current position as the closing number of the first half. Furthermore, the setting for ‘You’re the One That I Want’ is completely different, removing some of the grit and drama of Sandy’s makeover. A little more buildup and anticipation would have made this moment a guaranteed scene stealer.
Catching Grease in Canterbury
Overall the UK and Ireland tour of ‘Grease the Musical’ offers a highly enjoyable night at the theatre. Audiences are going to love this musical celebration of 1950s teen culture and growing up. The choreography is an absolute highlight, which when combined with Colin Richmond’s era-appropriate costume design takes audiences on a journey back in time to when rock and roll music was in its heyday. ‘Grease the Musical’ is based in Canterbury until Saturday 14th September, with last minute tickets available via the theatre’s website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Grease the Musical’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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