‘Grease’ slips in a few changes to the script but all your favourite songs are firmly intact

Who doesn’t love the cinematic classic Grease? As a kid, it was the first film I went back to see again and again at the movies – I think I saw it five times in 1978 alone, the year it was released. Being as familiar as the storyline is, one never really gets sick of seeing Grease in either filmic or musical form, so you know you’re in for a good time with its latest incarnation at Crown Theatre, Perth.

On for four weeks only, ‘Grease’ is pretty much a must-see and, while the songs are all so familiar, each one has an increment of different treatment in this particular production, making things nice and refreshing.

As the audience settles into their seats, they’re treated to a series of kitsch 1950s-style adverts on the big screen, like you’re right there at a classic drive-in theatre, ready for the main feature to begin. And boy does it start in a big way, with most of the main cast featured in the first scene, hanging off the Rydell High bleachers and getting up to no good – smoking, making out, you know the deal…

Most of the songs we know and love are in there, many of these changed up – and for the better. There are a couple of omissions, too – like Rizzo leaving out the ‘Eh, funculo’ in her performance of Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee – however, performer Mackenzie Dunn certainly makes up for it in an absolutely brilliant rendition of There Are Worst Things I Could Do, warranting wild applause come encore time.

The lead roles of Danny Zuco and Sandy Dumbrowski were carried out very well by Fabian Andres and Annelise Hall, respectively. There was a lot on both performers’ plates throughout the production and they pulled off the main characters as good as John and Olivia – remembering, of course, this is all live.

The costumes department provided a wave of glorious colour. Just when you thought the Pink Ladies would all be wearing, well, pink all the time, instead the wardrobe gets all rainbow-like. Costume director James Browne did a dandy good job of dressing the beloved characters.

Marcia Hines shines as the Teen Angel – a role originally played by a male (Frankie Valli of Four Seasons fame). Hines not only holds her own amid a jam-packed stage, she practically steals the show, turning the beautiful Beauty School Dropout into a gospel hit by the end of said number.

Hines appears on stage again towards the finale to let yet another familiar song rip but I’ll keep it a secret for now what song. Decades of experience on the musical stage ensure her fans won’t be disappointed – in fact the only disappointment is that the icon doesn’t get more stage time.

All the other characters that you’d remember from the film are here, too: Frenchy, Marty, Sonny, Kenickie – and while each performer brings a familiar personality to their role, they also inject a little of their own touch into their portrayals, which is refreshing.

So far as fun, frivolity and familiarity go, Grease is still the word.

Antonino Tati

‘Grease’ is on at Crown Theatre, Perth until July 28, 2024. Tickets are available through crownperth.com.au. Photography by Jeff Busby.

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