This is our review of Grease at Liverpool‘s Empire Theatre!
Synopsis Of Grease
After a whirlwind summer romance, leather-clad Danny and girl-next-door Sandy reunite at the start of senior year, but can they survive the trials and tribulations of teenage life? From Broadway to screen and back to stage, this cult classic takes centre stage at the Liverpool Empire.
Cast
Starring Marley Fenton as Danny Zuko, Hope Dawe as Sandy Dumbrowski, Rebecca Stenhouse as Betty Rizzo, George Michaelides as Kenickie, Joe Gash as Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel, Kieran Lynch as Doody, Lewis Day as Roger, Sario Solomon as Sonny, Alicia Belgarde as Frenchy, Emerald B as Jan, Jayd’n Tyrone as Eugene, Phoebe Roberts as Patty Simcox, Dominique Planter as Miss Lynch, Deena Kapadia as Cha Cha/Quinn, Adam Davidson as Johnny Casino/Joey, Sergi Ibanez as Diego, Ben Middleton as Kevin, Imogen Malone as Cindy, Zera Malvina Aitken as Nina, Carly Miles as Gladys, Lauren Kate Hampton as Tess, Thomas Inge as Brad, and Dylan Gordon-Jones as J.Z.
Analysis Of Grease
If you’re looking for a good night out, this is the place to be! From “Summer Nights” to “You’re the One that I Want”, audience members were enthralled with this production of Grease. The performance was captivating from start to finish, particularly in the dance numbers where the choreography thrived.
Both starring and ensemble roles were thoroughly engaged in their performance and left everything on the dancefloor/stage. This was particularly noticeable in Act 2 for the school dance scene, where actors paired up for a dance competition. The audience was treated to a spectacle of flips and lifts, which certainly added to the overall musical performance.
Unfortunately, the Chicago accents didn’t fare as well as the dancing. Most actors seemed to struggle with the classic 50s Chicago twang and the pronunciation made it particularly difficult to understand what they were saying. However, most of the audience is well-versed with Grease, so these miss-slips aren’t too much of a concern.
Staging
Another stand-out element had to be the staging – from Grease Lightning to the school gym. The set moved smoothly between each scene, adding a nice flow to the performance. This was especially prominent in the movement of Grease Lightning, which had light-up wheels to simulate fast movement.
And of course, as expected, the medley finale is well-loved by all. Audience members were quick to get to their feet at press night, and I predict that the following few days will run the same. Of course, who can say no to a sing-along of such classic songs?
Summary Of Grease
In closing, this production of Grease is a fun-filled night out with all the joy from the original production and the 1978 film. Despite a few teething errors, it’s already gone down a treat – something I expect to continue for the rest of the run. If you’re a fan of Grease, get yourself down to the Liverpool Empire before this show closes on 1 June!
