Review: Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s ‘Grease’ brings rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia to the Byham
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“Grease” is one of the most well-known and beloved musicals in America, and Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s production, running through March 17 at the Byham Theater Downtown, is a great reminder of why.
With book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, “Grease” premiered on Broadway in 1972.
It was adapted into a now-classic film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in 1978 and has been a staple of high school musical theater for decades.
But, as it turns out, even such a well-worn record can still deliver a rockin’ good time.
Taking place over a school year in the late 1950s, “Grease” follows a group of seniors who must navigate the end of their adolescence, relationships, peer pressure and finding their identity.
As opposed to the movie, where Danny and Sandy are the center of attention, the stage production is more about the ensemble — which means more time to get to know characters like Rizzo, Kenickie, Jan and even Patty Simcox.
Then again, plot has never been the strong suit of “Grease,” either on stage or screen. It’s really all about the characters — and the music.
The music, heavily influenced by early rock ‘n’ roll, is top-to-bottom crowd pleasing.
From “Summer Nights” to “You’re The One That I Want,” the audience was often struggling not to sing along with the well-loved songs this musical is known for. The show contains iconic ballads like “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” but can also get the audience dancing in their seats along to “Greased Lightnin.”
When staging a show that’s so successful and has such a strong tradition, it can be hard not to slip into imitation of the most famous versions of the characters or songs.
This cast did a great job of making it their own.
For example, Maya Santiago’s Sandy is innocent, but always has a strong-willed edge that foreshadows her turn into bad-girl territory at the show’s end. Zanny Laird embodies Rizzo with a refreshing sincerity, even at her toughest times, which makes the character feel more real and complete. Even Miss Lynch, the out-of-touch teacher played by Christine Laitta, gets moments of both hilarity and sweetness throughout.
The singing voices are the highlight of this production. Santiago (Sandy) and Davis Wayne (Danny) have lovely vocal chemistry together, but also sing their hearts out separately in back-to-back second act ballads “Sandy” and “Hopelessly Devoted.”
Laird (Rizzo) was coy and charismatic in “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee” but heartbreaking when she belted out “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.” And David Toole, who played the dual roles of Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel, brought the house down with his rendition of “Beauty School Dropout.”
The production really immersed the audience in mid-century America with old-timey radio broadcasts and ads played during scene transitions and as background music.
Costume designer Jeremy Eiben did a standout job with plenty of swoon-worthy vintage dresses that moved particularly well in the ensemble dance numbers. The direction and choreography, by Danny Herman, Rocker Verastique and associate director/choreographer, Lucas Fedele, was dynamic and energetic, bringing to life scenes from high school cheerleading practices to cozy sleepovers.
The sets aren’t complicated, but they also pull the audience back to the ’50s, especially Greased Lightning, the flame-adorned car that appears onstage for its namesake song.
And the dancing! In the first act closing number, this cast really does seem like they were “born to hand jive.” The audience will certainly come back for more after such a high-energy dance-off.
It’s not that Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s “Grease” is bringing some new twist to the classic musical, but staging a compelling production of familiar material is still an accomplishment.
This effort will charm those who have heard the songs five hundred times, as well as those who have never heard them before. The performers strike the right chords and seem like they’re having fun doing it.
“Grease” is running through Sunday, March 17 at the Byham Theater Downtown. Tickets can be purchased online at culturaldistrict.org.