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'Grease' and fun mix it up at CVLT
(by Herb Hammer - July 29, 2009)
THEATER, BY HERB HAMMER
'Grease' and fun mix it up at CVLT
Here we are back at Rydell High taking still another nostalgic look at Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's satire of high school life in the 1950s. Yes, "Grease," the long-running 1972 Broadway hit, has made its way back to Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, where just the thought of the show, rather than the paper-thin plot, gets audiences excited.
The CVLT production doesn't sizzle as it might, nor do Danny and Sandy have enough real chemistry to bring them together. In spite of these shortcomings, the show is a winner most of the way.
Rather than the book musical "Grease" sets out to be, this showing is more like short vignettes just to set up the songs. In this revival, as in most revivals of "Grease," the audience begins to squeal as soon as it knows what song is coming next. Nostalgia alone can prove a winning device.
Briefly, the story tells about Danny and Sandy, who have had a summer fling before returning to school in the fall. Neither has any idea they would both be going to the same school. Sandy has just moved into the neighborhood.
When the Pink Ladies, the "in" girls, and the Burger Palace Boys sing "Summer Nights," with Danny and Sandy leading the way, you just can't help but giggle when both sides sing, "Tell me more, tell me more."
And that's how it goes from song to song. "Freddie My Love," "Greased Lightnin" and "Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee" all bring grins as cute and clever and unambitious songs. Especially fun is the big first- and second-act closer, "We go Together."
Pamela LaForce, who not only directs but works the choreography, has done a remarkable job taking dances for what they are. She's been able to get them to appear to be really dancing. She also has her talented cast playing strong individual comic characters.
Sweet, innocent Sandy is brought in by the heavy-smoking, that's a tough thing to do in the 1950s, Pink Ladies, and is taught be one of the them. That is actually an important part of the plot, believe it or not.
Danny, who leads the Burger Palace Boys, drives what appears to be an actual broken-down convertible under the center stage platform. "Greased Lightnin" is a show stopper of a song and dance as the guys dance on top of and around the car.
The second time the car was brought out opening night, it came close to tearing down the set. If only they could leave this in. The audience loved it.
The show sours a bit near the middle of Act 2 at the end of a knockout "Born to Hand-jive." The authors try to get serious and finally drag the ending, which could have done without the last 15 minutes or so.
In spite of this, "Grease" remains the kind of classic audiences adore. The songs can't be separated from the show, nor can the show be separated from the songs. Mr. Casey and Mr. Jacobs have seen to that.
The show is nicely cast. Katelyn Vogias, as Sandy, and Steve Tiderman, as Danny, don't stand out from the rest, as you might hope, but actually fit in, which may be a better idea.
With fine directing and an exuberant cast, "Grease" is as much fun as ever, especially here at CVLT.
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