Grease

Grease IS the word at Holroyd.

This production was a lot of fun, although it did have some not-so-fun moments.

The good moments, though, far outweigh the not-so-good.

Daniel Milne as Danny and Cassie Colless as Sandy are perfectly cast, and have the talent and looks that make teenage girls squeal on X Factor.

Also in the X-Factor squealathon are the T-Birds Sam Baker (Kenickie), Jesse Curnow (Doody), Christopher Reid (Sonny), and Nathan McKenna (Roger), who are packed with talent holding their own individually and working well as a gang. It's easy to see why in real life Sam Baker is the lead singer in a rock band.

Matching them capably are the Pink Ladies Emma Whiteley (Rizzo), Fiona Brennan (Frenchy), Chrissy Moylan (Marty) and Amy Newcombe (Jan). Amy in particular knows how to deliver a line with verve and punch.

The cameos were scene stealers: Jordan Vassallo shone as a not-so-angelic Teen Angel, Isaac Grouse defined nerdism as Eugene, Priscilla Fripp's Patty Simcox lit up the stage, Steve Short's Vince Fontaine was spot on, and Fernanda Murialdo sizzled as spicy hot Cha Cha.

What I particularly enjoyed was the cast not copying their movie counterparts, but finding their own interpretation of the characters. They were well complemented by the unusually shaped set (black, white, and bobby-sox pink), designed by director Patty Macintosh and Jordan Vassallo, the lighting design by Gints Karklins, and Glenda Percival's choreography. The band is onstage at back.

The not-so-fun moments consisted of some uneven singing in the bv's, spotlights with a mind of their own, some directorial ideas that didn't quite work, some small lapses in character, and a few moments of self-indulgence.

The show began in the foyer, with Principal Lynch (well played by Melissa Dinning) addressing the audience as though we were the Rydell High students. Not everyone listened. Maybe if a school bell was rung beforehand? We were then let in to the auditorium to find our own unreserved seats, as per a school assembly. While this happened the cast began their first musical number. This didn’t quite come off. The audience ignored the cast as we were too busy trying to find a seat. I suppose the idea worked on paper, and kudos to the director for trying to do something different.

First-time MD Sam Holmes doubled as Johnny Casino and proves he's a good triple threat. I felt it was a bit too much having him come up front in the show's encore to lead the dancing while the singing principals were banished upstage. I also felt the cast's attempt to get the audience dancing at the end was a bit forced, although others in the audience didn't seem to mind.

I support trying to give all company members a chance to be on stage. However three older gents in the chorus didn't move with the same ease as the rest of the (younger) cast, which distracted from the main action. Could the gents be given something more focused to do with their movements?

The cast's joy and enthusiasm overcome these issues. If I had to choose between this show and the big spectacular coming our way then Holroyd's is the one that I want.

Peter Novakovich

Photographer: Glen Morgan