Review: There are worse things you could do than go see Grease at Palace Theatre

Palace Theatre Manchester is buzzing with anticipation as we all gather in our seats. Grease is a beloved film, and that love is very apparent here.

Let me give you some starters for ten for anyone who has not seen the movie nor is a fan. Danny and Sandy meet each other during their summer holidays and spend three wonderful and romantic months together. But after those three months, Danny has to go back home and Sandy stays in Australia. We follow Danny back home and to his Senior Year of High School at Rydell High, and unbeknown to Danny, Sandy is also starting her Senior Year at Rydell High.

The sets are incredible! The stage is set up to look like high school in various ways and Colin Richmond does a fantastic job with finding different ways of utilising the set pieces. Many parts of the high school are used including the gym and the outside of the high school. It was very impressive and made me feel like I was in Rydell High itself. The lighting was also phenomenal. They hit every beat with every song and added to the songs. Sarah Brown and Dale Driscoll are to be applauded for their work.

My favourite character in the films is easily Rizzo, because she is such a complicated and complex character, and she is the only one who, in my opinion, represents a true eighteen-year-old girl. Rebecca Stenhouse does Rizzo justice. She makes you laugh and cry and that is what Rizzo is meant to do to the audience. Stenhouse’s rendition of ‘There Are Worst Things I Could Do’ melts my heart. This is the moment when the audience starts to feel bad for Rizzo despite her mean persona. When the first notes start playing, I am holding my breath because I know this is going to be the moment. Rebecca Stenhouse is my highlight, and she was wonderful.

I cannot talk about Grease without talking about the music, probably one of the best parts about the whole show, because it makes the production. Jim Jacobs is to be commended for this. He wrote the lyrics for the original musical back in 1971 which was then adapted into a film which has become the most successful adaptation of a musical.

Every song in a musical tells a story and that is exactly what the songs in Grease do. I have already told you my favourite song but a close second is ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’ which showcases Sandy’s emotions towards Danny. It is such a heart-wrenching song about being so in love with someone who may quite possibly not be good for you. It is a very raw song and will always have me singing along when it comes on during karaoke. Another song that is my favourite is easily ‘Born to Hand Jive’. This song got the whole audience singing and dancing along.

If I had to mention one thing that let down the production, it is the dated aspect that Sandy forgives Danny despite her changing for him and him not changing for her. In the film, this is something they change, and it brings Danny and Sandy closer by changing for each other. This is something I wish they had kept in the production. It makes it feel as though Sandy has done all the work in the relationship and she has forgotten about everything that Danny did because he asks her to be his girlfriend. It is a little disappointing.

Overall though, Grease is a feel-good production full of both tears and laughs, and will have you dancing the night away.

Grease is at the Palace Theatre Manchester until the 19th of October, and you can book your tickets here