I HAVE to confess that I am hopelessly devoted to Grease. Cheesy as it is, this saccharine story of high-school lovers, a good, clean romp through the lives of American teenagers in the fifties, works a strange kind of magic.
She’s so virginal. He’s so hard. It’s all so clichéd. Oh, those summer nights.
Grease is the now classic story of prissy girl meets tough guy. He changes for her, she changes for him and they walk off into the sunset together. Despite the somewhat twee lines (“I just had the best summer of my life and now I have to go.
It isn’t fair,” Sandy whines breathlessly to Danny as the waves crash behind her, before telling him not to spoil it as he kisses her), the songs in Grease — summer loving, had me a blast — never fail to get thirty-something women up on the dance floor. Grease the movie, which we all know and love (and made superstars out of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John — herself a pushing thirty-something during filming), was adapted from an earlier stage production and took the world by storm in 1978 – it was the highest grossing musical of all time and was nominated in all major categories for both Oscars and Golden Globes.
It has also recently topped a Channel 4 poll of the 100 best musicals of all time. If people dropping what they are doing to burst into song is your thing, then Grease is the classic of its genre.
The real appeal of Grease (for those who fall into the love it, rather than loathe it category) is the fun, the simplicity and the feel good factor. As hard as it is not to sympathise with Sandy desperate to fit in with a mixed bunch of girls called The Pink Ladies (who hasn’t been there?), it is also difficult not to join in with said Pink Ladies as they skip across the school yard twirling their dirndl skirts. It’s got style, it’s got motion. Pass me the hairbrush…
IF THE 20th anniversary remastered DVD is not among your collection and you need bringing up to speed on the plot, it is basically this: Danny Zuko and Sandy Olssen had the perfect summer romance which they are reluctant to bring to a close come Labour Day. In a twist of fate they find themselves at the same high school in September. This is when Sandy finds out that Danny has a tough-guy reputation that he cannot let slip. As they move in parallel circles (he in ’shop, rebuilding a car that is later raced in a gangland contest, she becoming a cheer leader and dating the school jock), Danny and Sandy realise they are both loosing control.
The afore mentioned car race, a pregnancy scare, a foray into the bizarre world of beauty school and a high-school dance competition later, it is time for the two to graduate and finally get it together for a scene that Newton-John had to be sewn into her trousers for. They know who they want.
THE reception of Grease the movie ensured its continuation on the stage, for which it was again adapted; new songs, new sets, new limitations. Including a couple of songs from the original stage production, it is in this third-generation form that Grease is being brought to Cyprus next weekend courtesy of ECI international, a London-based events company (which has also bought us Lord of the Dance this summer).
So who are the stars? Tell me more.
The cast that has been assembled for this production has been brought together specially for the two Cyprus performances, and most are well known to anyone who frequents the West End. In the immortal role of Danny is Ian Virgo, who has appeared in TV shows NCS Manhunt and Band of Brothers in addition to the film Black Hawk Down and musicals on stage. Leading lady Katie Rowley Jones also has an impressive collection of musical roles under her belt.
ECI is putting on a fully-staged musical for its Cyprus audiences which also includes a full band. “It’s big, it’s brassy and includes dazzling choreography,” said general manager for the production, Ben Rogers. There are also rumours that a car will make an appearance on stage, although I doubt anyone will be risking their lives driving it.
All the favourite movie tunes are included in the show as are some original Broadway numbers, which were belted out by Richard Gere in the lead when Grease made its UK stage debut. They’re the ones we want.
n Grease at Larnaca’s Patticheion Theatre, Friday July 2 and Saturday July 3 at 9pm. Tickets ε10, ε15 or ε20 from the theatre or Nicosia Municipal Theatre. For more information call 24 665795
