Long before the ground-breaking movie version of Grease, in 1978, there was a stage version. The musical opened in Chicago in 1971 – and received extremely poor reviews. A hastily re-written version appeared on Broadway and ran for 3,388 performances, in an eight-year residency. That version was then turned into the film and became the most popular musical movie of all time, making household names of its stars, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Based on that knowledge it takes a very brave person to ditch some of the most memorable features of the rewritten version, and revert back to the poorly received original.
In the current touring production, resident this week at The Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, you won’t find the legendary T-Birds, you’ll find The Burger Palace Boys. Some of the most iconic dialogue that we all know so well is spoken so quickly, and in a variety of accents, that it is frequently inaudible and the car, that starts off as a wreck and becomes the amazing Greased Lightning, stays a wreck throughout the show.
Now, there are issues on the opening night. A number of the key performers in the show are indisposed, so we have three understudies and two swings in the cast. The auditorium is late opening, no doubt because of extra rehearsal time, and as the show begins it is very obvious that the cast are already tired.
Sadly, that results in a very nervous, reserved and lacklustre first act. There is little in the way of energy in the piece and, although we hear the superb musical numbers, including Grease, Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’ and a short version of We Go Together, everything in between is very half-hearted.
Act two begins with the song Grease. Not the Frankie Valli version that appeared in the first half, but a completely different song about “hair grease”. Thankfully, as they have now settled in to their roles for the evening, the cast start to relax and actually enjoy participating in the performance. As a result of this act two just gets better and better.
Born to Hand Jive is power-packed, Beauty School Dropout is as camp as a row of tents, Sandy is delivered straight from the heart and Rizzo stands up for herself in There are Worse Things I Could Do. But, standing head and shoulders above the rest comes India Chadwick, standing in for Hope Dawe, as Sandy. Her powerhouse vocal performance of Hopelessly Devoted to You is an absolute showstopper, and the audience reaction shows her just how much her crystal clear vocals are appreciated.
After Sandy’s quick change from sweet innocent college girl into a vamp in skin tight lycra leggings, we get to hear the most recognisable song in the piece, You’re the One That I Want, which has the audience clapping along enthusiastically knowing that, despite difficult circumstances and last-minute changes, the show has gone on. The full cast come together for the final number in the show, the full version of We Go Together, and then we get the customary “Megamix” encore to get the audience on their feet and dancing their way out of the auditorium.
There is no doubt that changes to some of the more recognisable elements from the film, and recent stage revivals, did leave some a little disappointed but, all in all, this current production of Grease is a pleasant night out on a summer’s evening, and a chance to remember queueing around the block trying to get into the cinema to see the original movie.
*** Three Stars