Grease the musical London

(Critique en français : Cliquez ici)

Book, musics and lyrics: Jim JACOBS and Warren CASEY

Director: Nikolai FOSTER

Choreographer: Arlene PHILLIPS

Musical supervision and arrangements: Sarah TRAVIS

Scenic and costumes design: Colin RICHMOND

Lightning designer: Ben CRACKNELL

Video and projection design: Douglas O’CONNELL

Sound designer: Richard BROOKER and Tom MARSHALL

 Musical Director: Dan GLOVER

Casting director: David GRINDROD Associates CDG

Starring (cast 2022):

Back at Dominion Theatre from 2nd june 2023 until 28th october 2023

This version of Grease is dazzling. Probably the best we have ever seen! Great job and some nice surprises!

The book has been reworked. The order of the songs has been turned upside down. Surprising and striking! We also have the pleasure of discovering unknown tracks like Tatoo Boy!

But what really stands out in this revival is the energy of the cast. We find this energy notably in the wild choreographies with furious lifts. We are impressed by the ensemble’s occupation of the Dominion’s large stage. The use of a very different colour palette on each artist which, paradoxically, does not make a mess but on the contrary gives a neat effect.

We regret however that some secondary aspects of the story don’t get to the bottom of things. In spite of everything, we have a Danny played by an actor who gives him a real presence and a real charisma. Like all the Danny’s in the different creations, he takes on the mimicry of John TRAVOLTA but makes the role his own with brio. On other versions, we regretted that Danny and Sandy were overshadowed by the supporting cast. Here, this is corrected thanks to the performance of actor Dan PARTRIDGE. We are spellbound. He is awesome. Correction: the show is awesome!
Sandy is still a bit of an afterthought for the necessity of the role but Olivia MOORE‘s acting makes her an endearing girl and a bit less silly than in the past or french versions. She delivers a heartbreaking Hopelessly Devoted To You. As for Jocasta ALMGILL as Rizzo, she can leave us speechless on There Worse Things Could Do and play the « serial kicker » by appropriating (again, it’s amazing) the title Grease Lightning with panache. This Grease Lightning number is, moreover, one of the best scenes of the show thanks to Jocasta, to the ensemble but also thanks to a breathtaking Kenickie who never sinks into the caricature of the thug. He blows like the thunder. It’s a pity that Vince FONTAINE’s role is a bit easy. Peter ANDRE would have deserved something more fleshed out. This does not call into question the remarkable and huge direction of this production.

On the arrangements, we find a regressive and frenetic rock spirit but also more current sounds. We’ll go from heavy metal variations to a style very much borrowed from the Platters or Rockabilly. It remains fresh, dynamic and catchy! Grease is the world is the subject of several impeccable underscores.

You won’t forget this summer night that gave you a blast and happened so fast. A must for this summer!

Give me more ! Give me more !

Synospis

THE ONE YOU WANT. THE ONE YOU NEED. OH YES INDEED!

Grittier and more electrifying than ever before, the world’s best-loved musical returns to London.

After a whirlwind summer romance, leather-clad greaser Danny and girl-next-door Sandy are unexpectedly reunited when she transfers to Rydell High for senior year. But can they survive the trials and tribulations of teenage life and find true love once more?

Bursting with hits including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted to You and You’re the One That I Want, this thrilling new production is directed by the Leicester Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai FOSTER, and choreographed by the legendary Arlene PHILLIPS.

Grease arrives back in the West End for a limited season.
It’s the one that you want – so don’t miss out!

Credit Photo : Manuel HARLAN

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