Grease is still the word … apparently
GREASE The Musical channels previous stage productions as well as the famous movie, ensuring you’ll be hopeless devoted to seeing this version of the teen classic at QPAC.
GREASE The Musical opened to a full house in Brisbane. The final city on the show’s national run, it has been filling theatres since it began life as an amateur production playing in Chicago in 1971.
This time around the musical is a clever hybrid of the original stage musical merged with elements from the 1978 blockbuster film. Warren Casey and Jim Jacob’s primary book, music and score are augmented by tunes from the film penned by John Farrar, Louis St. Louis, Scott Simon and, of course, Barry Gibb.
It’s Gibb’s Grease is the Word that brings the production roaring to life in the first few minutes after the curtains open. It’s an indicator from director Luke Joslin that this is how Grease looks in 2025.
Designer James Browne has crafted costumes and a set so deeply rooted in a cartoon version of the 1950s that Roy Lichtenstein would want to swipe them.
The show opens at the Rydell High bleachers and it’s here the principals and the cast get to belt out a terrific version of Summer Nights.
All the casting is strong with Fabian Andres (Danny), Annelise Hall (Sandy), Mackenzie Dunn (Rizzo) and Keanu Gonzalez (Kenickie) front and centre. Gonzalez and Dunn are offered a little room to move with their characters, while Andres and Hall are firmly rooted in playing Danny and Sandy as defined by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the film.
A highlight of Act I is seeing Kenickie steal back from Danny the right to sing Greased Lightning as he did in the original stage production. The band, under the supervision of Dave Skelton and direction of Kohan Van Sambeeck, is on fire.
The production scores an A+ for set design. Not only does the show look terrific, but the seamless transitions from sports field to dance hall to diner and drive-in are note perfect.
While the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies are allowed their share of witty one-liners, extra star power is provided by Patti Newton (Miss Lynch), Bobby Fox (Vince Fontaine) and Marcia Hines as Teen Angel.
Where GREASE The Musical does come under scrutiny in 2025 is with its social politics. Maybe it’s slightly tempered in this production, but the dialogue does little to hide the fact that this is a period piece. More American Graffiti than Happy Days, audiences largely know what to expect when they buy a ticket.
Still, let’s not let that dissuade you from a great night at the theatre. GREASE The Musical is the ultimate popcorn musical. The singing, the dancing and the songs are gold class.
As cast members take their bows, do not leave before the encore. Not to be missed. We’re pleased to report that Grease is the word – still.
GREASE The Musical plays the Lyric Theatre, QPAC., until February 1.