(GREASE at Ivoryton Playhouse, CT)

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Ivoryton Playhouse’s current musical is “Grease.” It opened off Broadway on February 14, 1972 and ran for 128 performances before moving to Broadway to run for a record breaking 3,388 performances, closing April 11, 1980. It was made into a very successful 1978 movie version starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. The movie is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year. The audience is welcomed back to 1959 at Rydell High School to celebrate the high spirited days of gum chewing, hub cap stealing, hot rod loving boys with their D.A.’s and their wise cracking girls in their bobby socks and pedal pushers and enjoy the adventures of bad boy Danny Zuko and good girl Sandy Dumbrowski. This new version of “Grease” is directed and choreographed by Todd Underwood with musical direction by Mike Morris with a topnotch cast and orchestra. This musical is a high energy hit from start to finish with its multitalented cast. He casts each of these roles splendidly. The sense of professionalism comes through in the entire presentation especially the song and dance numbers that will take your breath away.

Todd directs and blocks this show wonderfully. His many dance numbers are spectacular especially the Hand Jive, “Greased Lightening” and “We Go Together.” Mike obtains the best vocals in the solos and duets as well as terrific harmonies in the group numbers. His six piece orchestra is fabulous, too. The set design is by Daniel Nischan with lighting by Marcus Abbott and the gorgeous 1950’s costumes are by Elizabeth Cippolina. Even though the stage show is more of an ensemble piece than the movie, the two leads light up this stage with their talent. The head hoodlum Danny Zuko is excellently played by Johnny Newcomb. He captures the essence of the character of Danny. I last reviewed Johnny as Roger in Rent two years ago at this theatre. He also displays his strong voice and dancing skills in this role. Johnny’s songs include the duet “Summer Nights”, his solo “Sandy” when Sandy walks out on Danny after he puts the moves on her at the Drive-in. This number displays the range of his voice with a strong falsetto finish to it. His other duet of “You’re the One That I Want” shines, too. One of his funniest moments occurs when he smokes a cigarette when he’s running a race. Kimberley Immanuel does a wonderful job as Sandy as she makes the transition from nice, wholesome girl next door to trashy Pink Lady by the end of the show. The message to change yourself to fit in with the “in crowd” should be viewed in the context of a musical comedy and not followed in real life. Kimberley’s pretty soprano voice soars in her songs “Summer Nights” duet with Johnny, her poignant solo “Hopelessly Devoted” as well as in “You’re the One That I Want”, the show stopping transformation duet near the end of the show. Kimberley and Johnny have a lot of chemistry together as Sandy and Danny, this young couple from the 1950’s which earns them a thunderous ovation at the curtain call.

The hard hearted leader of the Pink Ladies, Betty Rizzo is excellently played by Alyssa V. Gomez who dances up a storm in this role. I last reviewed her as the tragic Mimi in “Rent.” Her vocal prowess is dynamite in this role when she sings the comic “Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee” when she makes fun of Sandy and especially in “There Are Worse Things” which is heartbreaking and poignant as she ponders the dilemma of being pregnant. It brings tears to your eyes at her splendid rendition. It displays Rizzo’s softer side and is my favorite song in the show. The saxophone solo in it is spectacular, too. Alyssa is also a marvelous actress who makes you laugh and cry at all the right moments in the show. Her one liners leave you rolling in the aisles. Tall and handsome, Natale Pirrotta is fabulous as her boyfriend, Kenickie. He has the snarl and swagger of this womanizing character down perfectly. Natale’s interactions with his fellow hoodlums are splendid, too. His dynamic voice is heard in the show stopping dance number “Greased Lightening” with the gang dancing over and around his car. Natale struts his stuff in this number. He and Alyssa make these roles their own.

Their friends are excellently played, too.Taylor Lloyd plays the sexy Marty who is in love with a Marine. Taylor belts out “Freddy, My Love” with three girls backing her up ala the Supremes. Audrey Wilson plays the constantly eating Jan while Taylor Morrow plays her boyfriend, Roger who is called Rump because he likes to moon people. Their comic duet “Mooning” stops the show with hilarity when he moons the crowd. Taylor also sings “Rock and Roll Party Queen” with Doody. Max Weinstein plays Sonny, the school mooch and cad who is constantly in trouble with Miss Lynch. Taylor wins many laughs with his funny one liners all night long. Luke Lindsteadt plays the nervous and naive Doody wonderfully. He belts out his “Magic Changes” to an appreciative audience. Katelyn Bowman plays the class bubble head, Frenchy. Frenchy decides to drop out of high school to become a beautician which is a big mistake. Katelyn wins many laughs in this role.

A comic scene stealer is Lawrence Cummings as Teen Angel who persuades her to return to high school. His “Beauty School Dropout” is sensational. He also plays the smarmy DJ Vince who tries to pick up Marty at the dance. Another adult in the show is Amy Buckley as Miss Lynch. She runs roughshod over the students. Other talented cast members include Cory Candelet as Eugene, the nerd who is an excellent dancer in the show and does some fabulous pratfalls in this role while stealing many a scene, Alexa Racioppi as Patty Simcox, the snooty cheerleader who has a crush on Danny and Shalani Taylor as Cha Cha, the tough talking dancing chick who wins the dance contest with Danny. Jonny Cortes plays Johnny Casino who stops the show with his song “Hand Jive” with cast dancing magnificently during it. I last reviewed Jonny in “Rent” where he played Angel. So for a trip back to the good old days of the 1950’s, be sure to catch “Grease” at Ivoryton Playhouse before they dance their way out of town for good.

GREASE (5 to 29 July)

Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St, Ivoryton, CT

1(860)767-7318 or www.ivorytonplayhouse.org