REVIEW: Grease @ York Theatre Royal

“Let’s flip, flop and fly down to Rydell High!” York Light Opera returns with a production of Grease at York Theatre Royal that’s anything but amateur. 

An excitable, giggly crowd provide a welcome atmosphere for York Light Opera’s opening night. The actors let it fuel an upbeat, well rehearsed and perfectly cheesy performance. Everybody is happy to be here and you can feel it. 

If you’re not familiar with the plot of Grease, then I’m quite frankly shocked. But I’ll swallow it down and give you a brief overview: An American high school in the 1950s is the backdrop to this teen drama where young people navigate their way through peer pressure, friendship and romance with a plethora of musical bangers… Oh and then a makeover solves it all. 

A vibrant and versatile set gets the show off to a good start with the word ‘Grease’ in lightbulbs twinkling over the stage. There’s plenty of 50s pastel colours that are now firmly back in fashion this year. It serves as a delicious cocktail of present-day-nostalgia that, I’m sure, the audience had hoped for. 

Accents are a bold endeavour for both professional and amateur actors alike, yet the whole cast puts in a valiant effort. There are very few slips of the Yorkshire twang that resides in many of us who dwell here (myself included). 

The American accents are good. But where the cast excels is in encapsulating that American, extroverted excitement. There’s something profoundly feel good and innocent about the whole production.  

Rizzo, played by Emma-Louise Dickinson and Kenickie put in a brilliant performance that aims to break down the innocent feel of the show with authentic kissing and comedic motor-boating (don’t google it). They’ve got great chemistry. 

Kenickie, played by Jack Armstrong really does standout throughout the whole performance. The song ‘Greased Lightnin’ performed with his fellow T birds (on that iconic car), feels broadway worthy. He’s one to watch – I’ve called it.

Finn East, who plays Roger, really brings the fun to tonight’s performance. Look out for the song ‘Mooning’ which was cut from the movie but really gives East a chance to show off at the Theatre Royal. He pulls in several laughs in the song and during the play, which results in the biggest cheer at the curtain call. No competition. 

Emma-Louise Dickinson shares a superb solo with strong vocals as Rizzo for ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’. Danny, played by James Horsman, civil engineer by day, actor by night, puts in an appropriately sulky display for ‘Stranded At The Drive-In’. Kudos goes to Sarah Craggs, who has successfully moulded herself into a carbon copy of the sweet and dainty Sandy that we all know and love (-to secretly get annoyed at).

The live band are tight and work carefully around the actors – a great testament to John Atkin’s skill and experience, at the same time, the choreography, put together by Director Martin Knight and taught by Rachael Whitehead, really comes into its own for ‘Born to Hand Jive’ and ‘Greased Lightning’. 

If you want tickets to the perfect antidote for a dull February night, you can find them here: https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/tickets.php?id=1645