Many years later, ‘Grease’ is still the word

By Rich Fahey

BEVERLY – Nostalgia sells. And it really sells when much of your subscriber base may consist of “Baby Boomers” who grew up during the Golden Age of Rock ‘n Roll.

Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs are the theatrical equivalents of “one-hit wonders.” They had an idea for a musical with music in the style of rock in the late 50s  and characters  with big hair, leather jackets and outsized personalities. They ran with it — all the way to the bank.
After its 1971 debut, “Grease” went on to became a hit on Broadway and in the West End of London — at one point it was the longest-running show in Broadway history — and the blockbuster 1978 movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John only cemented its status as a cultural icon.
Casey and Jacobs never had that kind of success again either individually or as a team and Casey died in 1988, but their place in musical theater history is safe.

“Grease” has returned to the North Shore Music Theatre after a decade’s absence and if the reaction of a recent sell-out crowd at a performance is any indication, it’s a definitive welcome back.

It’s time to get into the Wayback Machine and return to 1958, and the beginning of senior year at Rydell High for members of both the “bad boy” T-Birds and their female counterparts, the Pink Ladies. The musical’s book by the duo of Jacobs and Casey is but a convenient clothesline to hang the songs and production numbers onto.
Boy meets girl during the summer of 1958, just before their senior year of high school. Danny Zuko (Nick Cortazzo) of the T-Birds returns to Rydell High, never expecting to see Sandy Dombrowski (Caroline Siegrist), his summer love who was supposed to be going to Immaculata but somehow ends up at Rydell, instead.

That sets up the dueling stories of a torrid summer romance (“Summer Nights’) with Danny accentuating the positive and embellishing while Sandy regales the members of the Pink Ladies with the romantic aspects of the relationship.
When the two meet up unexpectedly — oops — he’s suddenly as cold as ice. What will happen between them? Does Goody Two Shoes Sandy have what it takes to be part of the Pink Ladies?
Siegrist gives Sandy spunk and sass and the vocal chops to deliver “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”
There’s nice performances by Lily Kaufman as the big-haired beautician wanna-be Frenchy, Bailey Reese Greemon  as the hard-edged Rizzo,  Brittany Zeinstra as Marty, Sunaya Smith as Jan and Alaina Mills as Patti Simcox.
Cortazzo has both the matinee idol looks and vocal chops to bring Danny to life, with strong support from as Mark Santos as Kenickie, Jayson Brown as Doody, Jeremiah Garcia  as “moon expert” Roger, Ryan Behan as the nerdy Eugene Florczyk, and Andrew Tufano as Sonny LaTierri.

Rosie Granito has some sterling moments as nonpareil dancer Charlene “Cha Cha” DeGregorio.
Kathy St. George is in her best scene-stealing mode as spinster schoolteacher Miss Lynch; watch out if you’re chewing gum in the first few rows of the theater. The T-birds quake in fear whenever she approaches and St .George really gets down and dirty during the iconic “Hand Jive” number she does with lecherous DJ Vince Fontaine (Chris Stevens).’

As  Teen Angel, Avionce Hoyles successfully transforms the anthem “Beauty School Drop-Out” from the traditional Anka-Avalon style to an R&B number, bringing down the house.
The laugh-out-loud moments come, especially when it comes to a time when everyone smoked — including the doctors — and the scene of Danny smoking as he competes for the track team.
Director  and choreographer Kevin P. Hill wears both hats seamlessly and a talented ensemble makes sure the energy level never lags, and there aren’t any weak links in the cast vocally or dance-wise.

The production numbers come rolling off the Casey-Jacobs pipeline: “Greased Lightnin,’” “We Go Together” and the iconic “Born to Hand-Jive.”
The songs that were written and added for the 1978 film are all included here: “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” “Sandy,” “You’re The One that I Want” and the title tune, a hit for Frankie Valli way back when.
Music Director Milton Granger  engineers an energetic orchestra  playing the rock-pop score.

It’s still great fun, for those remembering or those discovering an era for the first time.
So hey, Mr. Baby Boomer, and yes, you amateur anthropologists who want to see what life was like 65 years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Put the ragtop down on the T-Bird convertible, set the radio to your favorite AM station and let the 1950s music and the memories wash down over you in this production of “Grease.”
The North Shore Music Theatre production of “Grease.” Book, music and lyrics by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs. Directed and choreographed by Kevin P. Hill.  Music direction by Milton Granger. Scenic and lighting  design  by Jack Mehler. Sound design by Alex Berg. Costume coordination by Rebecca Glick. Wig and hair design by Rachel Padula-Shufelt. At the North Shore Music Theatre through Aug. 24. www.nsmt.org.