Presented by StageArt
Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran
Reviewed on October 14, 2011
Created in 1971 by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease was a musical based on the duo’s high school memories growing up in 1950s Chicago. Quickly growing in popularity, it moved to New York and became a record – breaking box office phenomenon. At the 1972 Tony Awards, Grease earned seven nominations.
By the show’s 1980 closure on Broadway, Grease had run for 3,388 performances. Subsequent productions played both nationally and around the world. Early performances also made stars of Barry Bostwick, Treat Williams and Richard Gere. A U.S. tour in 2008 included American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks.
In Australia, a 1998 theatre in the round spectacular at Rod Laver Arena featured Neighbours star, Craig McLaughlin as Danny. Young Talent Time alumnus, Jane Scali played his love interest, Sandy, and stage star, Anthony Warlow, sang the part of Teen Angel. Pop sensation, Dannii Minogue, was the wise – cracking, Betty Rizzo.
Set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High, the plot followed a tightly – knit group of school students, the T – Birds and the Pink Ladies. A classic good girl falls for bad boy tale, through a series of break – ups and make – ups, the main characters’ relationships are neatly resolved just in time for graduation.
Exploring love, lust, slumber parties and fast cars, Grease also addressed deeper social issues such as teen pregnancy, gang violence, and class conflict. With an original score resonating the era’s rock ‘n’ roll sound, the show was a cute, yet pleasantly nostalgic tribute to simpler times.
In 1978, Paramount Pictures turned Grease into a big budget showcase for rising talents, John Travolta and Olivia Newton John.
When the movie became a smash hit world – wide, it seemed inevitable that a sequel would be filmed. Four years later, Grease 2 was unleashed featuring new faces Michelle Pfeiffer, Maxwell Caulfield, Adrian Zmed and Lorna Luft.
In an act of role reversal from the first film, the simple plot revolved around Michael, Sandy’s bookish English cousin, falling for Stephanie, the tough – talking leader of the Pink Ladies.
Despite intense pre – release publicity, Grease 2 opened on the same day in the United States as ET: The Extra Terrestrial. Unfortunately for the film, Stephen Spielberg’s box office juggernaut completely rolled over everything in its path.
Through time, thanks to double feature revivals, DVD anniversary box sets and a special tribute website, Grease 2 has gained its own cult status.
StageArt, the production team behind this live show first, takes a radical approach re-imagining the film. Their unique stage adaptation by Robbie Carmellotti & Drew Downing ditches the cringe – worthy dialogue and strips the sequel back to what it did best. Working with the film’s 30 or more original songs, Grease 2: Live In Concert is two hours of high – energy entertainment.
With a format similar in approach to The Production Company and Magnormos, StageArt’s concert format is spare but smart. Here, the team builds focus on quick changes, movement and characterisation.
Sharp and inventive choreography by Joel Anderson & Nadia Gianinotti makes full use of Chapel off Chapel’s intimate floor space. Hits like Score Tonight, where the performers double as bowling alley ten pins, Reproduction (a cheeky parody of sex – ed classes), Who’s That Guy, and Rock-A-Hula-Luau, are really brought to life.
In the spirit of Jersey Boys, Hairspray and Xanadu, costuming by Jeremy Bailey Smith and set / prop design by director, Karl McNamara, capitalise on the colourful retro – wave flooding recent musicals.
Placed neatly behind the non – stop action, a live band conducted by musical director, Drew Downing, adds to the rock ‘n’ roll excitement, packing a flavoursome musical punch.
Standout individual performances, are supported by a uniformly – excellent ensemble.
The show’s song and dance – driven structure also allows each cast member and pair an opportunity to shine.
Josh Piterman (fresh from The Production Company’s Kismet) plays Michael with knowing, tongue – in – cheek charm. Tapping into his inner Clark Kent, his geek by day, superhero biker by night routine steals the show. Particularly in the songs Charades (as Michael) and Who’s That Guy (as Cool Rider), Piterman truly uses the opportunity to exploit these polar opposites. With hilarious character versatility, it’s hard to believe we’re looking at the same performer.
Clad in skin – tight black leather, Melanie Ott plays the leader of the Pink Ladies, Stephanie, like a combination of Joan Jett and Suzie Quattro. The songs This Time, You Don’t Own Me, and Cool Rider, highlight her powerful, rock – chick belt. Together, Ott and Piterman share a sometimes playful, always electric chemistry.
Daniel Mottau, flexing his guns as Johnny, Stephanie’s jealous ex, and Gemma Purdy as Paulette, her best friend and part time rival, use this tension well in their individual songs, You Can Have Her, and I Know (You Don’t Own Me) respectively.
As the T – Birds, Dave Burrows (Dimucci), Liam Kilgour (Goose) and Henry Brett (Davey) get into the spirit of their loveable lunkhead characters. For part of the second act’s talent show, along with Mottau, they even squeeze in a sly tribute to The Full Monty with the song, Prowlin’.
Nadia Gianinotti (Rhonda) and Hayley Piterman (Sharon) make great support as the Pink Ladies. Piterman’s turn with Burrows in Lets Do It For Our Country, and Gianinotti’s Some Kind Of Wonderful keep the action moving.
Other fun moments transplanted from the film, are Tara Kablan and Lauren Edwards as the Sorority Twins. Ashley Rousetty and Leigh Barker as the Duo, Mr Stewart and Miss Mason.
The cast is rounded out with Avril Campbell Smith as Delores, crushing on Michael with her own version of Be My Baby. Tim MacDonald and Ashleigh Krevald make solid support in the ensemble.
Grease 2: Live In Concert will satisfy both die – hard followers of the film, and make welcome new fans of this high – concept production too.
The show plays until October 22.
Image Source: Hung Up On Retro