Grease: Hard work does not grease the wheels of this show

Photo: Alan Dean

The popularity of the Jim Jacobs/Warren Casey 1972 musical Grease has always surprised me. The storyline is weak. The subliminal message is immoral (Put out if you want to get the guy) and most of the characters are one-dimensional.The positive aspect of the show is that it is a good vehicle for a display of high energy dancing and strong singing voices.While the Suzart production does feature some good voices and occasional bouts of lively dancing, the main impression is of a lack of energy. Verbal exchanges are stilted and punctuated with long pauses as the show drags along painfully slowly. The attractive but over-ambitious set causes further delays. For example, while it may seem a neat idea to have a car on stage, the action would move faster without all the movements required to bring it on and take it off.

Director Sue Dacey would also have been wise to cut such parts of the text as the reference to Danny’s being disciplined for refusing to cut his hair. This Danny (a very good performance from Damien Broomes) has a shaven head.

A few other positives: Tara St. Pierre as Sandy has a lovely singing voice, and Kristopher Tharris as Kenickie and Cynthia Wood as Rizzo are clear about their characterizations, but most of the rest of the large cast seem to be still at the stage of learning blocking and lines. For anyone who does not know the slight story, the boy-meets-girl tale that began with a summer romance between Sandy and Danny goes sour when Sandy shows up at Danny’s school. As a member of a leather-coated gang of greasers, he is reluctant to admit that he cares for the straight-laced Sandy. See above for how they resolve their problem. A few other side romances emphasize the preoccupation with coupling at this U.S. high school in the 1950s.

Not exactly a compelling plot. Unless the show moves like greased lightning, propelled by high energy, consistently strong performances and high quality direction, it is bound to flounder. Sadly, this is what happens to the Suzart production, despite the fact that a great deal of work seems to have gone into mounting the show. It is fortunate for the company that all performances were sold out before opening night.

Note: There is a seating problem at the Centrepointe Studio Theatre. Patrons in Row H and some other rows on the lower level, have difficulty touching the floor when seated. This can cause severe circulation problems.

Grease

Suzart Productions

Book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

Director: Sue Dacey

Musical director: Gabriel Leury

Set: Elaine McCausland

Choreographer: Dani Bone-Corbishley

Lighting: Rob Puchyr

Sound: Shauna-Lee Thompson

Costumes: Joy Bowerman

Cast:

Sandy………………………………………………………..Tara St. Pierre

Rizzo…………………………………………………………Cynthia Wood

Frenchy………………………………………………………Mackenzie Breeze Bone

Marty…………………………………………………………Emi Lanthier

Jan……………………………………………………………Rachel Rumstein

Tammy……………………………………………………….Tamara Mervin

Donna…………………………………………………………Alexia Miron

Cindy…………………………………………………………Sydney Quilliam

Peggy-Sue……………………………………………………Mikayla Young

Patty/Radio voice…………………………………………….Sarah Dee

ChaCha……………………………………………………….Rebecca Hrab

Danny…………………………………………………………Damien Broomes

Kenickie……………………………………………………….Kristopher Tharris

Doody…………………………………………………………Jamie Rice

Roger………………………………………………………….Jay Landreville

Sonny………………………………………………………… Noah Grove

Ralph/Radio voice…………………………………………….Morgan Coughlan

Lenny/Movie voice……………………………………………Alex Dee

Eugene…………………………………………………………Liam Gossom

Miss Lynch…………………………………………………….Sue Potechin

Teen angel. Johnny Casino…………………………………….Milton Dover

Vince Fontaine…………………………………………………Randy Coles

Chorus: Julia Belanger, Zander Bone, Elly Crow, Laura Matson, Lily Meyer, Victoria Miron, Maya Ruckenstein, Bryanna Watt, Emma Woodside.