Michael Cox reviews the latest tour of the 'cultural behemoth'.
Grease is the word. It is also the review. Because let’s face it: there’s very little that can be said in this or any review that would change anyone’s opinion of this cultural behemoth—for better or worse.
To the few not in the know, Grease follows the trials and tribulations of a group of American teenagers in the 1959/60 academic year. They go to school, hang out, get up to hijinks and lust after each other. There is little plot or character development, and friendships and relationships ebb and flow for no logical reason.
Perhaps this is something that many like about Grease—unlike most stories about teenagers, these kids live mundane lives: there is nothing extraordinary or interesting about any of them. They are, in their hearts, simply good, clean kids with a dash of innocence—even if they do act out and misbehave. And maybe that is the appeal—by being ordinary, we the audience have an easier time empathising with them as they pine for the understandable desire to be loved and accepted. No superheroes, wizards or magical creatures are to be understood or defeated here.
And while the book is filled with scenes that drone on about these trifling aspects of teenage angst, Grease has within its arsenal some of the catchiest songs penned for the modern era. Even if one has escaped ever seeing the film or any of the numerous stage productions (from schools and amateur companies to the current UK tour), its songs have entered the lexicon of pop culture. It might help that most of these songs just appear in the show—none are really tied to a plot point, but they prove to be irresistible earworms.
What a successful production of Grease hinges on is the likability of its cast. It’s why the film hits as hard as it does: Danny and Sandy might be flat characters, but John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John are electric to watch, and they have brilliant chemistry together.
This current tour, directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, is…fine. It’s well designed and moves at a good pace, and the company numbers have a lot of thumping energy to them. At the performance reviewed (June 17th, 2024 at the Kings in Glasgow), many of the key roles were played by understudies, and the result was a mixed bag—some impressed in individual moments while others didn’t rise to the challenge.
However one sees it, it really comes down to personal taste. Whether the cast of this current tour rise to the occasion or not, one’s view of Grease will not be changed or challenged by this tour. Those who like the music will surely enjoy hearing these bangers played live, but those in the sceptical camp will find nothing to change their mind.
Grease is indeed the word. How that famous line makes you feel will probably tell you whether it’s the one that you want or not.
Grease performs at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow until June 22, 2024. It then performs at the Edinburgh Playhouse and His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen before continuing its tour. Photo by Marc Brenner.
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