Grease is a high-octane rollercoaster and a staple of any musical theatre company. Hornsby Musical Society’s production of this renowned classic retains all that we love about it, whilst infusing it with young, up-and-coming performers who breathe new life into the fifty-plus-year-old story.
Before John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John stole our hearts with the hit film in 1978, Grease was a stage and Broadway musical first and foremost. Originally performed at Kingston Mines nightclub in 1971, it premiered on Broadway in 1972 and at the New London Theatre in 1973.
After a brief hiatus, the smashing success of Grease the movie revived its popularity. Ever since then, Grease has been performed in countries all over the world. (It was even the last musical I performed in at high school where I played Roger.)
Our protagonists, Sandy and Danny, meet during the summer before school one year and fall in love. They believe they will never see each other again but end up at the same school a few weeks later. Their friend groups, the Pink Ladies and the Thunderbirds, pull them in very different directions. It makes them question their relationship and whether they really ever knew each other at all.
Director Samuel Dobb, no stranger to Hornsby Musical Society, nor to performing, makes an assured directorial debut. He and sister Elizabeth, as Assistant Director, carefully choose moments in the musical to extend; giving the characters more time to sparkle and shine. By choosing a story almost everyone knows, together they are able to present the musical numbers using their unique style and humour.
Core components of the team who help bring their vision to life are Musical Director Lachlan Ceravolo and Choreographer Lauren Oxenham. Both of their talents are on full display in every scene. Even in the transitions.
The standout moment for both comes during the opening of Act Two in ‘Shakin at the High School Hop’ and ‘Born to Hand Jive.’ The on-stage band electrifies the dance floor, courtesy of Ceravolo. And the company of dancers fill the space with a beautiful mixture of 1950s and 2020s movements, courtesy of Oxenham.
Samuel Byres plays a particularly humorous Danny Zuko; his dramatic turns are to die for. Caitlin Parr has the makings of a Broadway star in her role of Sandy Dumbrowski. The rest of the Pink Ladies and T-Birds gangs each make the most of their solo moments.
Standouts include Aiden Smith’s ballad as Doody in ‘Those Magic Changes,’ Tim Walsh’s completely committed ‘Beauty School Dropout’ as Teen Angel, and Zach Godsmark’s and Sarah Paull’s love-duet ‘Mooning’ as Roger and Jan.
While the moral of the story (changing your personality to fit with ‘the one that you want’) may be a tad dated through a modern lens, the story of Grease will continue to be fantasised by young teenage heartthrobs everywhere for decades to come. Including myself!
Hornsby Musical Society’s production proves that Grease is still the word. Grease is still the one that I want. Grease is the one I am hopelessly devoted to. And when we’re together, we go like ramma-lamma-lamma-ka-dingity-da-dinga-dong! Together forever as shoo-wop-sha-whada-whadda-yippidy boom-da-boom!
Grease runs to 18 May at the Pioneer Theatre, Level 1/14 Pennant St, Castle Hill NSW 2154.
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1236877
Website: https://hornsbymusicalsociety.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/hornsbymusicalsociety/
Photo credits: Stefanie Roche Dobb, SRD Photography
