Review: ‘Grease’ just isn’t the word any more
Published 2:36 pm Thursday, May 21, 2009
The London production of “Grease” was directed by David Gilmore, who has been quoted as saying that audiences shouldn’t expect to gain any deep meaning from this musical tribute to teenage life.
It’s just supposed to be a feel-good look back at fun times in the 1950s when music and fashion were the most important things in high school life.
So is “Grease” fun? Well, kinda.
That’s the best I can do. I just can’t get too excited about this limp jukebox musical that delivers a few good songs but is mostly held together with B-side tunes, dorky dialogue and some less-than inspiring acting.
The story is about finding love, losing love and finding it again. The story “concludes” raunchily with Sandy Dumbrowski finding her inner slut, spray-painting on some clothes and abandoning everything she is or believes in to get Danny Zuko. Dear God, no, I wouldn’t want to read any meaning into that.
“Grease” is a far cry from the recent teen angst blockbuster “Spring Awakening,” which proved we can address the meaty issues facing youth and still be treated to some decent music.
It’s not that I don’t like things nostalgic. The four-star production of “Jersey Boys,” the story of the pop-singing sensation the Four Seasons, is the sort of stunning Broadway success I’d see again and again. “Grease?” Not so much.
Speaking of “Jersey Boys,” Eric Schneider made his Broadway debut in the show as Frankie Valli and he was absolutely awesome. Here, he produces a bland bad boy as Danny Zuko. However, his heart-melting solo, “Sandy,” convinced me that listening to Schneider sing is worth sitting through just about anything.
The supporting cast really did the heavy lifting here, with charismatic and comedic performances by Will Blum as Roger, Bridie Carroll as Jan and Kate Morgan Chadwick as the marvelously goofy Frenchy. Another standout was Allie Schulz, who had a body to die for and a voice to match. Schulz played the hard-edged yet vulnerable Rizzo. Schulz comes directly from the Broadway production and was a contestant on NBC’s talent competition “Grease: You’re the One That I Want,” which spawned this revival.
“American Idol” season five winner Taylor Hicks appears in this revival in a bizarre cameo as Teen Angel during a stage spectacle that could rank as the campiest Broadway debut on record. To say this scene is the “talker” of the show is no tribute to Hicks’ voice, but you’ll see what I mean.
“Grease” brings happiness in the end and several smash hits from the 1978 movie, such as “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Grease,” and “You’re the One That I Want.”
The show wraps up with Danny and Sandy, played by Emily Padgett, arm in arm and the whole gang deliriously singing “We Go Together.” It’s the kind of happiness most of us won’t remember feeling about high school, but that’s apparently life at Rydell High. The song is very danceable, with few real words and strung together with lots of “shoo-bop sha wad-da wad-da” and “chang chang chang-it-ty chang.” Nothing deep. Just a fun song.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com
“Grease”
Through May 30 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Tickets are $29 and $83. Call 888-584-4849 or go to www.5thavenue.org.
