Grease

The Broadway musical 'Grease' is one of the most popular of its type to stage both in professional productions such as is currently playing at the Sydney Lyric and in amateur productions worldwide.

The reasons for the popularity are obvious. The musical is comparatively simple to stage with minimal sets needed, especially for amateur versions. The ensemble cast members each has their moment to shine. The musical contains four or five easily recognisable, toe tappingly popular, tunes. And the musical comes with a ready made reputation mostly from the beloved film version which made international stars of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

The musical is a throwback to the style of the early twentieth century creations which mostly comprised  a series of song and dance (and vaudeville) numbers devoid of any real linking plot.

In reality, Grease is not a very good musical. It contains no plot or character development of any consequence and its four of five most popular tunes aside the remainder of the numbers seem to be there simply to fill in time.

None of this was of much concern to the nearly capacity matinee audience of mainly senior citizens yesterday who lapped it all up and left with smiles on their faces and ears ringing from the intense and noisy sound design.

The show has its limitations but the cast gave it their all in an exuberant and vigorous rendering.

★★★