Review: GREASE Plays it Cool at The Academy Playhouse

Grease hit the stage at the Academy Playhouse this past week, and with a mostly age appropriate cast, the energy of opening week and each actor's character in prime form, this untraditionally young cast gives a charming performance that would give anyone who hasn't seen either the movie or musical staged a pretty good idea of what they've been missing.

Right on the heels of A Chorus Line's final performance last weekend, Grease continues a wonderful summer season at The Playhouse by bringing youthful energy and pizazz to a show that is on almost everyone's list of favorite musicals. This production brings together a rather large cast whose energy and eagerness to present what they have all been working so hard on is evident in the characters they play in the midst of all the hullaballoo and teenage angst that Grease already is.

Watching age-appropriate actors bring this musical to life on the Academy stage is honestly quite infectious, giving a whole new feel to the show that does well not to imitate what people already acknowledge it to be. The music is great, the costumes are stylish and the enthusiasm to put on a good show is there, so Grease is sure to be your next entertaining night out at the theater.

With book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey, this 1971 musical (further popularized when brought to the big screen seven years later in the film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John) is now directed by Peter Earle and music directed by Chris Morris (who never allows his band to come anywhere near sounding sub-par) at APA.

There is a lot to consider when doing a show such as this: between the number of people needed, the costumes they all must proudly don (John Duble does a great job with those as per usual), the set and props (Greased Lightening does need to impress) and the fundamental dedication of all involved to make those harmonies sound great and the choreography shine (there is some originality to what is seen on stage, as you will see) , this is no easy feat to pull off. Yet, the Academy presents this show with so much more youthful vigor that makes this show so much fun to watch and considerably appropriate for most of the family.

For those of you not familiar with the plot, Grease follows high school students Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski: Danny is one of the "greasers" the title refers to who is cool and dons the leather jacket and shades, while Sandy is the latest transfer student at Rydell High. The two meet and fall for each other one summer, only to discover that they actually attend the same school come the fall. With an ensemble of students as different as high school students can be, all come together to celebrate the drama that is what goes on at Rydell High in this high energy, sassy and altogether fun musical that will have new fans come the night's end.

The cast features (in order of appearance) Gabrielle Marchant, Anna Macek, Sam Carpenter, Olivia Di Bari, Heidi Moeykens, Olivia Graceffa, JaRed Walker (James Tooker (swing), Zane Bender, Oscar Spiegal, Ethan Ehnstrom, Anna Campbell, Tess LeConey (swing), Alexandra Kratochwill, John Pearson, Justin Torrellas, MAddie Williams, Alex Welch, Raven Berry, Skyler Cunniff, Bailey Hartford, Shannen Holbrook and Jessie Williams.

Dick Stocks, Don Sanzo and Andrew McKenzie join Morris in the band and make this show rock as much as the actors and creative team do.

Grease is that feel good musical everyone is meant to enjoy, with songs everyone can admit to having heard at one point or another. Many of the actors listed above are no strangers to the Academy stage, and once again does APA become the place where people of all ages come together to create a show in which talent shines, voices soar and the enthusiasm on that stage is palpable. To say that this cast does well to show both the potential of these actors and the show itself has is truthful, and this production of Grease is bound to grow on whoever decides to wander into that theater atop the hill in the heart of Orleans.

Grease at the Academy Playhouse, located at 120 Main Street in Orleans, began performances on July 20th and will continue thru August 20th. Tickets are $26 (all sections) and can be purchased by visiting the box office in person from 2-8 p.m., Tuesday thru Sunday, by calling (508) 255-1963 or by visiting apacape.org. There is reserved seating, so best book your tickets early should you prefer to sit in a certain section or row. Performances are held every Tuesday thru Sunday @ 8:00. Light refreshments and snacks will be sold before the show and during intermission.

Please come and support a gem of a theater group by coming to a performance of Grease this or next month!

Photo Credit: Michael and Suz Karchmer

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