Grease, the Musical is an epic based on the 1950s United States working class youth subculture defined as ‘Greasers'. The musical flows at the fictional Rydell High School and relates the story of working class teenagers passing the most evolving stage in their lives. The entire musical is strongly influenced by the youth’s most preferred music genre ‘rock and roll'.
Grease, the Musical was staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo last week. Designed and directed by Kevin Cruze with the music direction of Nishantha Warnakulasuriya and choreographed by Umeshi Rajeendra, the show with its toe tapping score and fabulous dancing was a sellout. We witnessed the last show of its run - last Sunday. The show began with a bang - all of the cast returning to Rydell High School for the class reunion headed by Miss Lynch (Dhara Gunawardena) who sings with Patty (Tayhani Kannangara and Eugene (Zaahid Amaan) the school anthem.
The total cast was superb - Geethika Cooray as greaser Danny Zuko and Trudy Herft as Australian transfer student Sandy Dubrowski were truly amazing. The greaser gang T-Birds headed by Kenicke Murdoch and the Pink Ladies headed by Betty Rizzo (I don't drink or swear, I won't rat my hair) were brilliant in showcasing youth who live in a fantasy world.
The character we loved most was Frenchy's guardian angel, Teen Angel (played by Danu Innasithamby) who advices his subject in song - Wipe off that angel face and go back to high school.
The musical was really thrilling to watch and the curiosity it evoked kept the audience spellbound to the end. The young cast reignited memories for spectators while drawing the visuals of carefree youth who enjoy and realise life. The scintillating and catchy tunes and the beautiful dancing transported the audience back to a time which saw hubcaps to hairdos, pom-poms to a prom night. A night to truly remember!
