Grease, The Arena Experience

Grease, The Arena Experience
Book, Music & Lyrics by Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey. Harvest Rain Theatre Company. Executive Producer: Tim O'Connor. Director & Choreography: Callum Mansfield. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. 7th-9th April, 2017 and then touring

This recently well-publicised Brisbane venue was rocking last night for more than one reason. More like over 850 reasons, the amount of exuberant cast members prancing across the extremes of this arena experience complete with revolving stage and colourful lighting: such a good choice for a production of this size. And it was a wise choice, too, to use the updated version that includes those three memorable songs specifically written for the movie. No need to mention them here.

Harvest Rain's reputation didn't disappoint, with classy presentation and a polished selection of performers, many of whom are graduates from established Australian musical theatre training institutions like WAAPA and the like. But what added spice to the night was the huge ensemble of school students all gyrating and dancing with glee at the opportunity to be a part of this unique presentation. It is, after all, a show set in an educational institution; so what an intriguing choice for a backdrop. And what with the catchy, quirky choreography to boot and such a devoted team to put it all together using such a gargantuan cast, full academic marks should go to all those who contributed towards mounting this enthusiastic epic bash.

The famous Grease characters were well brought to life: Drew Weston as Danny, whose versatility is impressive, particularly his stylish and musical dancing, the vocally-talented Meghan O'Shea as Sandy, Ruby Clark's superb raunchy Rizzo coupled with a voice to match, great characterisation by Stacey de Waard as Frenchy and Bil Heit as Miss Lynch. The list goes on. There were also well-staged and outstanding presentations of musical numbers like “Those Magic Changes”, memorably performed by Barnaby Reiter as Doody, the ensemble version of “We Go Together” and “Born to Handjive”; but what really brought the house down was X-Factor winner Dami Im's portrayal of Teen Angel in a unique arrangement and fruity vocal rendition of “Beauty School Dropout”, complete with a vast array of feathers and in full big-production-number mode. 

With such good vocals and tightly-rehearsed harmonies and a cast managing well working without the musical director up front, there were still some excerpts where the band wasn't quite 'sitting-nicely-in-the-groove', with a sound design hovering over more accent on the percussion rather than balanced layering between the instruments and total listening experience.

Nonetheless, scintillatingly brought to life, this fun and energetic party musical hit the right notes for all those young and ambitious performers who have a passion for musical theatre. I remember seeing a rather drab professional version of this show at the Metro Bourke Street Theatre in Melbourne many years ago and it excites me to think that a company like this topped this previous professional production with enough panache to stir even the grave of the likes of Elvis himself. 

Interesting that he was asked to play Teen Angel in the movie, but turned it down ......

Brian Adamson

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