Nowadays, every production of Grease feels it must pay homage to the
1978 film version, which happens to be celebrating its 40th
anniversary this summer. Granted, it is
one of the most successful movie musicals of all time that also spawned
numerous Top Ten hits from its multi-platinum soundtrack. But the problem with going this route is the
show can too easily feel like a parody of the film, full of schtick and two-dimensional
characters. Sadly, this is the direction
the Ivoryton Playhouse’s production of Grease
has taken. The result is a leaden,
underachieving show that never finds its buoyant, giddy footing.
The plot is a variation of boy
meets girl, boys loses girl and, in the end, boy gets girl. In
this scenario, we are presented with two seemingly incongruent lovebirds--high school
greaser Danny Zuko (Johnny Newcomb) and dewy-eyed co-ed Sandy Dombrowksi
(Kimberly Immanuel). Along the way, we
meet members of his high-spirited gang, the Burger Palace Boys, and their
female counterparts, the Pink Ladies.
They rock, they roll, get into assorted mischief and, finally, come
together to celebrate their disarming rebelliousness.
The drawback of the production
comes in both the way the performers interpret their roles, the substitution of
numbers from the movie that don’t necessarily fit, and the way songs are
presented. For example, right at the
onset, the innocuous “Grease is the Word,” a number one chart-topper from the
movie, is used instead of “Alma Mater” and “Alma Mater (Parody)” from the
original 1972 version. The latter songs would
have better prepared the audience for what is coming, or should be coming—a raucous,
slightly naughty-filled show. “Those Magic Changes,” which should be more of a simple
celebration by a young man beginning his mastery of the guitar, has become a
goofy, jittery performed Elvis impersonation.
The young cast, too often, comes
across as caricatures overplaying their roles for easy laughs. Johnny Newcomb’s
Danny Zuko is more Prom King than rough and tumble gang leader. Kimberly Immanuel, who was so wonderful in
Ivoryton’s production of The Fantasticks,
plays it straight—properly so--as the trusting newcomer, Sandy Dombrowski. While the less is more philosophy could be
applied to the other actors, her transformation into a leather-clad swinger at
the show’s conclusion could have been more over-the-top.
The score for Grease is still a gem with rollicking
upbeat numbers such as “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together,” superb comic
numbers like “Mooning” and “Beauty School Dropout,” and plaintive odes to youth
such as “Summer Nights” and “It’s Raining on Prom Night.” And, yes, in addition to the opening number
the big songs from the movie—“Hopelessly Devoted,” “Sandy,” and “You’re the One
That I Want”—have been blended into the musical.
Director/Choreographer Todd L.
Underwood has not been able to generate enough energy and good-natured bounciness
that such a playful show requires. There
was too much gesticulating and undisciplined histrionics for the musical’s own
good. The dance numbers, however, were
enthusiastic and lively, taking the spiritedness and brio of the performers to
heart. There were some technical issues
with errant lighting and a slightly garbled sound mix. Hopefully, with more performances under its
belt these issues can be ironed out.
Grease,
playing
at the Ivoryton Playhouse through July 29th.
