Grease is the word!
Stepping back in time has never been more fun, and on Thursday night, a packed Lyric Theatre welcomed Grease the Musical to Brisbane. The gang at Rydell High brought the house down with their infectious energy, retro costumes and unforgettable songs.
Brisbane audiences have patiently waited a year for their turn to see this new production, which opened a year ago to the day in Melbourne on 9 January 2024. Featuring an all Australian creative team led by Luke Joslin, Grease the Musical delivered the nostalgia of the iconic film while giving the production some fresh design elements.
What started out as a stage show in 1971, Grease went on to become the highest grossing movie musical of all time, starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. Beloved hits written especially for the film were brought across and worked into the staged version, and have remained there ever since.
Everyone knows the story of 1950s summer lovin’, pink ladies, greased lightnin’, drive in movies and teen angst. This fresh staging sees set and costume designer James Browne going big and bold, drawing on a graphic art aesthetic with clean lines and an almost monochromatic main set.
Cleverly making use of a revolve stage, we were taken from the bleacher steps of Rydell High and the school dance gymnasium to the malt shop hang out, the pink ladies’ bedroom or the garage where the magic happens. The costuming is purposefully bright like a comic book, and a standout moment in Act One was at Marty’s sleepover which saw each pink lady wearing a peignoir in their own neon shade, led by Sandy, resplendent in her signature yellow.
It’s the music that holds a special place in our hearts, and all the beloved songs were delivered by the cast with gusto. From the iconic opening ‘Grease is the Word,’ to the closing ‘You’re the One That I Want,’ music direction by Kohan Van Sambeeck and mind blowing sound design by Michael Waters brought the party musical to life.
It was the lesser known songs that showcased the distinct sound of the ’50s. In Act One it was ‘Those Magic Changes’ charmingly performed by Jordan Koulos as Doody, ‘Mooning,’ sweetly performed by Oliver Lacey and Katelin Koprivec as Roger and Jan, and ‘Freddy My Love,’ led by Rose Shannon-Duhigg as Marty.
But it’s the leads who carry the story. Annelise Hall as Sandy perfectly embodied the innocent girl from Australia, channelling both ONJ with her blonde hair and Rose Byrne with her natural accent. Her solo ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ was a crowd favourite. Fabian Andrés brought the charisma as Danny Zuko, his solo ‘Sandy’ showcasing his powerful vocals. Keanu Gonzalez cut a commanding figure as Kenickie, leading the T-Birds with the showstopper ‘Greased Lightnin.’ Mackenzie Dunn was compelling as Rizzo, perfectly embodying the ’50s rebel with her Bettie bangs and pedal pushers. Her solo ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’ was a gut punch of emotion.
The ensemble brought the energy and dance moves to the group numbers and raised the roof with ‘We Go Together’ and ‘Born to Hand Jive.’ Marcia Hines was a knockout in her solo as Teen Angel, her song ‘Beauty School Dropout’ was just heavenly and ended with a fabulous gospel twist.
Shout out to the gorgeous ’50s drive in style video designs by Craig Wilkinson that were projected onto the screen before the curtain rose, setting the mood before the show even began.
While standards have unquestionably changed since the musical’s inception (and a cut line or two wouldn’t go astray), Grease the Musical is still a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. Capturing the rebellious spirit and romance of the 1950s, Grease the Musical was a night of pure joy, culminating in the crowd up on their feet for the megamix finale. The Australian tour is coming to an end in Brisbane, so don’t miss your chance to see this electrifying production. It may be another ten years before it comes around again.
Grease the Musical is on at The Lyric Theatre, QPAC for four weeks only until 1st February.
Tickets: https://www.qpac.com.au/whats-on/2025/grease-the-musical
Website: https://greasemusical.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/greaseoztour/
Photo credits Naomi Jellicoe
Visit our TikTok page for live videos of the night.
