‘Grease’ review
‘Overall, Grease just might be the word […] a truly excellent production’
Bright, joyful, and big-haired, DULOG’s Grease takes to the Gala stage this week bringing along with it brilliant vocals, energetic dance numbers, and incredible performances all round from the cast and crew. Co-Directors Michael Nevin and Sarah Johnston, Musical Director Ben Armitage, and Assistant Director Amanda Cross-Court do an incredible job of bringing Rydel High to life, with the vibrant 60s aesthetic shining through right from the show’s opening. Their clear conception of how to bring out the comic moments of the production whilst also honouring the more serious sections is a testament to their directing skill and they should be highly commended.
Mathilda Ketterer (Sandy) and Max Hildred (Danny) are incredible leading performers, creating warm, engaging characters that the audience can’t help but root for. Ketterer’s Sandy is sensational; sweet and yet also clearly strong, Sandy is brought to life through Ketterer’s powerful voice and performance. Hildred’s is also wonderful as Danny, with him establishing a strong balance between wooing Sandy (and others) and wanting to be effortlessly cool. Funny and charming, Hildred excels at portraying Rydel’s leader of the T-Birds.
Making up the rest of the T-Birds, Jobe Hart, Midun Odunaiya, Joe Wilson, and Louis Williams (Kenicke, Sonny, Roger, and Doody respectively) all do an excellent job of portraying the tight knit, hilarious group. ‘Greased Lightnin’’, led by Hart, is a notable stand out alongside ‘These Magic Sounds’, led by Williams. They highlight the T-Bird’s engaging dynamic, whilst dazzling the audience with vocals and choreography.
On the other side, we have the Pink Ladies, undoubtably the coolest girls at Rydel High. Talia Tobias is a stellar Rizzo, both maintaining her icy, darkly comedic side whilst also showing Rizzo’s more sympathetic aspects with her breathtaking rendition of ‘There Are Worse Things’. Connie Richardson’s Marty, Lily Moon’s Frenchie, and Lucy Rogers’ Jan are all hilarious, with their facial expressions always being on point, and their perfectly delivered one-liners making you wish that you could join them for lunch (you can’t). However, it was the joint numbers between the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds that I thought were the most enjoyable, with the classics ‘Summer Nights’ and ‘We Go Together’ being absolute stand outs.
Poppy Harvey Wood shines as Patty, adding a burst of energy into the stage upon every entrance, and hitting her comedic moments easily each time. Similarly, Archie Elliot does an incredible job as a wonderfully cocky Teen Angel, and a strong member of the ensemble. The ensemble as a whole are fabulous, with clean, energetic dancing and wonderful singing – numbers such as ‘Grease’, and ‘Born to Hand Jive’ are superb, and credit must go to Co-Choreographers Beth Dench and Ellie Crow for their exciting and smooth dance numbers.
Throughout the performance, lighting (designed by Jonathan Wilson Downs) was used effectively to highlight both high energy dance numbers and softer, more intimate moments. Specifically lighting in ‘Beauty School Drop Out’ was powerful, exemplifying the dream-like mystical nature of the song. Costumes (designed by Harriet Miller) were colourful and clearly well-thought-out, succinctly reflecting each and every character. Although I found myself missing the traditional Pink Ladies jackets, the 60s aesthetic was brought to life through the costuming. Huge recognition must also go to the Stage Managers (Evie Collins, Thea Jupe, Alex Mccalmont, and Grace Matthews) and all of the stage hands who managed quick, smooth transitions between each scene - all under the amazing supervision of Production Manager Anna Brzezinski .
Overall, Grease just might be the word. It is a truly excellent production, and a massive congratulations to the work of the whole company – it is fundamentally a joy to watch.
By Nell Hickson.