Opened 27 Apr 1928. Used as a cinema for a while, returned to theatre in 1929. 1232 seats. Member of the Society of London Theatre. New home of the Peter Hall Company from 1998. An [ATG] member.
Stage version of the musical film. Featuring all the hit songs from the film version, including You're the One That I Want, Summer Nights, Sandy, Grease Is the Word and many more.
Grease was always supposed to be about an age of innocence tinged with sexual awakening, a paean to first love and first cigarettes, Cadillac cars and dance night in the school gym. Once upon a time in the West End, this seemed like a good idea; Richard Gere was the first, very good, UK Danny at the New London in 1973 (Elaine Paige had a small role).
Somehow, with the passing years and the iconic elevation of the very bad 1978 movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton- John, the fun has been squeezed out of it, and any residual charm in Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s ersatz rock and roll musical flattened in a rush to the finale of selected highlights.
As at the opening of this production by David Gilmore in 1993, I feel defeated by decibel levels and churlish with disappointment. The amplification has a tinny, invasive quality that’s the enemy of musical enjoyment, and when things quieten down a bit in the second act – you can actually hear some good rhythm guitar in “Sandy” at the drive-in movie – the songs are less good than the frantic ones.
For those who could bear to watch the entertainment abomination that was Grease Is the Word on ITV earlier this year, a verdict is required on the performances of 19 year-old Danny Bayne as Danny Zuko and 24 year-old Susan McFadden (sister of Brian McFadden, the Westlife pop singer) as Sandy Dumbrowski. That verdict is mixed. It’s impossible to isolate acting talent, or even personality impact, in the first half because the entire cast is encouraged to squeal, squawk, face-pull and cackle like a cage full of angry baboons in the zoo. No one bears even a passing resemblance to a human being.
But as Arlene Phillips’ whiplash musical staging (re-created by Stori James) kicks in, you can see that Bayne does indeed have a powerful stage presence and his command of the moves is total (it turns out he’s been British champion in hip-hop, freestyle and Latin American dance for years). McFadden’s Sandy, however, remains a dumb cluck even when she dons the black leotard and says goodbye to the wholesome image of Sandra Dee that has hampered her pulling progress. She’s sweet enough, but nothing special, and her singing lacks depth or resonance.
Terry Parsons’ design remains as colourful as it was, though the floating Cadillacs have gone and the sun shines with far less golden intensity on the bleachers. Thin strips of red neon light make a good design link between the local DJ’s recording studio and the high school, where everyone seems to be about 35 years old.
Jayde Westaby makes a mark as the suddenly pregnant Rizzo and Charlie Cameron is a prettily pneumatic Marti. Siobhan Dillon, one of the best of the runners-up in the BBC search for Maria programme, whom Grease co-producer David Ian slobbered over in the adjudications, is rather hidden away as Patty but will surely have a second chance in the near future.
This is the 2nd time i have seen Grease, i think its brilliant and Danny and Susan are the best Danny & Sandy! I sa in stalls row cc 15& 16 and had a great view. - Davina
16 Jun 08
I loved this show!! had a great view from the stalls in d row. danny bayne and susan mcfadden were brilliant as the leads and loved the part of patty by siobhan dillon. The dancing was electrifing and wanted 2 make u get up and join the cast. hopefully gonna go see it again. cast were friendly when went backstage and got some photos which added to the whole expereince. My favourite had 2 be siobhan was very friendly and so pretty. a must see. ull go home singing no doubt. - jennie
04 May 08
Sat in Stalls on row L on 20th Feb 08. Good seat. Really enjoyed the show as went with mixed expectations. Was so irritated as one of the cast members I recognised but for the life of me couldn't think where - as I occasionally catch a glimpse of such things as The Bill, Corronation Street, Eastenders - was he from there?? I checked the website on my return home and it was him off Price Drop TV!!! I bought an "orginal" peice of jewellery from there when he was on reduced from £369.99 to £2.59 plus £15.99 postage - awesome. Seriously he was very good but voice rather unusual when singing. The leads were excellent apart from Sandy looking like she had been pressed and squeezed to get into those lycras at the end hardly Olivia Newton John type viewing- bring back the figure of Denise Van Outen!! The dancing and all voices were spot. The only thing that really irritade me and always does was the clapping and yapping of women mainly with young kids with them. They really should stick to pantomimes. Thought the woman in front of me was about to throw all her popcorn and huge bag of minstrells into the air and do a jive dance, but she managed to restarin herself throughout. PS. Don't mean to offend any of you larger ladies with the lycra remark!! - Dave Woolrich.
23 Feb 08
Reality TV brought us Connie Fisher and Lee Mead but also this shoddy revival featuring two of the weakest leading performances I have had the misfortune to see. Danny Bayne can dance but has no charisma and cannot sing to save his life. Susan McFadden has almost no acting ability but at least sang reasonably well until going disastrously out of tune on her main ballad. The show reminds me of its' perma-tanned producers: all flash and no substance and utterly cynical - many songs sounded suspiciously enhanced by pre-recorded tapes. Two stars just because Vince / Teen Angel rose above the mediocrity and the cast, who otherwise appeared to be going through the motions, managed to rouse themselves for a genuinely entertaining 'We Go Together' to close the first half. Also the band was loud enough to drown out the incessant noise from the audience. Perhaps those who throw their money at this will also go to see Hairspray and see just how good a musical of this type can be. - David Baxter
17 Feb 08
The actual show was better than I expected, although not great. What really made the show for me was Siobhan Dillon as Sandy! She was absolutely amazing, with incredible singing and acting that was so believable and had so much depth. She certainly deserves to be more than an understudy! - theatrefan
13 Feb 08
fun, fun, FUN ! Thought this was fab (although a bit loud in parts - my 7 year old nearly levitated at the start of Greased Lightning !). Danny and Susan are great as are the supporting cast, especially the boys, and the sets very clever. A great fun night out but take your earplugs!!! - Mila
23 Sep 07
Well, 3.5 really! The words you couldn't possibly use for this production of Grease include subtle and restrained. It's brash, loud, cheesy, coarse and a bit tacky. BUT it's hard to resist the energy and colourfulness and both the TV-cast leads are worthy of their selection, especially Danny whose is a superb dancer but also a good singer and an OK actor. Harmless fun. - Gareth James
20 Sep 07
I've seen the show twice now and think it's brilliant. Susan didn't play Sandy last night due to a croaky voice and Siobhan (usually plays Patti) took the lead (told 10 minutes before the show opened). Danny B is absolutely fantastic and what a super dancer. I met him after the show and got his autograph - what a nice young man! Susan was better as the part of Sandy -came across more innocent. The shower scene was funny and the cast overall were great. I would go again. - Sue Morley
11 Sep 07
Brilliant! Everybody I went with enjoyed it very much. Of course it's just pure enterteinment, nothing intellectual,simply great fun. Of course some morons will object to people having a good time, but that's their problem, they are obviously deluded as they think they are superior to anybody else. Anyway, some of the reviews for the movie were terrible when it was released, but still became a great hit and today it's a classic. So the public is always right. - Serena
31 Aug 07
Dire. Anyone who enjoyed it is either a moron, deluded, or connected to the show. - sarah
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