Grease

Daniel Erbacher’s choreography was the star of this production. The first act finale “We Go Together” had the entire company of 36 dancing in synchronisation and it was euphoric with the energy levels off the charts. Every musical number was enhanced by Erbacher’s movement, which captured the 1950’s era to perfection, as did the wailing tenor saxes in Joe Goodman’s pit band, and Emma-Jane Apsey’s leather jackets, bobby-sox and pedal pusher costumes.

This production used the original text and integrated the popular movie songs, “Hopelessly Devoted to You”, “You’re the one that I want” and the title tune into the score.

Lachlan Schoenfisch had the requisite cool swagger and greaser attitude for Danny and showed off some decent vocal and acting chops. If his performance was a little short on teenage angst, he more than made up for it with his terrific rock ‘n’ roll dance moves. Julia Winning’s Sandy sang sweetly, looked virginal for most of the show, and did an amazing transformation into an Olivia Newton John-clone for the finale.

The boys, Christopher Staples (Kenickie), Ryan Paroz (Doody), Jack Lee (Sonny) and Ben Apsey (doing double duty as co-producer and Roger), not only made their mark with “Greased Lightnin’,” but dominated the prom with “Born to Hand Jive”.

Maddie Hargens’s Rizzo had plenty of tough-girl veneer masking a touching vulnerability, Sarah Holcombe’s Patty registered strongly as a cheerleader, while Heather Hagemann had fun with the frequently out-of-her-depth Miss Lynch. Flanked by a bevy of beauteous Angels, Dylan Ashton’s “Beauty School Dropout” was a showstopper.

Maddie Barlow’s sets had more than a touch of Roy Litchtenstein’s pop-art about them in their comic-book look, anachronistic for the Grease era but effective nonetheless.

Although Cherie Vera’s zippy direction would have benefited by more scene change underscore, it was Erbacher’s show. His first time out as choreographer of a complete musical, he inventively proved time and time again his future in this area looks dazzling.

Peter Pinne

Photographer: Mary Quade