Review: Grease, Orchard Theatre, Dartford, Wednesday, August 29

by Keith Hunt

Like a finely crafted quiff, Grease is one of those musicals that refuses to lie down and continues to rock 'n' roll on to the great delight of audiences.

That overworked cliche of making it your own can't be applied to the lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko. We expect - demand even - that they become John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John from the 1978 smash hit film, even though the musical was created seven years earlier.

Danny Bayne, winner of TV's Grease is the Word, and Carina Gillespie gave us just that at Dartford's Orchard Theatre. Danny has perfected Travolta's dimpled charm and loping gait and Carina captures Newton-John's sweet innocence, with powerful voices to match.

The musicians high up at the back of the stage did a good job of whipping up some fervour in the audience on the opening night in the already torrid atmosphere which prompted staff to hand out fliers promoting this year's panto Aladdin as fans.

The result was there was more fanning along than clapping along to the long list of instantly recognisable songs belted out such as Grease is the Word, Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin', We Go Together, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Born to Hand Jive and Sandy.

The format has been massaged since my last visit to fictional Rydell High, with Arlene Phillips adding her flare to update the choreography.

I noted the car race between the rival gangs was missing and Danny dishing out a slap instead of a boing on the nose with a comb in Summer Nights. The fiery Greased Lightnin' car literally exploded onto the stage and made us all jump out of our skins.

The quality of the voices of the T-Birds (Ross Wild, Richard Vincent, David O'Reilly and Josh Dever) and the Pink Ladies (Kate Somerset How, Lauren Hood, Laura Wilson and Scarlett Davies) was tip-top in the familiar tale of 1950s teenage angst, love, fast cars and rivalry.

While the character of Rizzo is not the most likeable, Kate Somerset How, another finalist in Grease is the Word, shone in the role as she roughed up prissy Sandra Dee.

The vocal power did, however sag somewhat when well-rounded, twinkle-toed stargazer Russell Grant sashayed onto the stage as Teen Angel for the Beauty School Dropout number.

We all remember his flamboyant foray into Strictly but his moves are still more ha ha ha than cha cha cha and the only real sparkle came from his silver suit. Despite that, you can't help smiling at his cheeky chutzpah.

The finale brought the inevitable reprise of the infectious songs and left us on a Rydell high.

Grease is at the Orchard Theatre until Saturday September 1.