Grease is the word: we review Grease at Palace Theatre Manchester

Most of us will have some recollection of the 1978 film version of Grease, and our memories of the stand-out hits, character manifestations and iconic teenage tribe names may be etched in our memory. The film version is something generations have watched together, but it was based on a successful theatre production that premiered seven years before the film. If you’re coming to this theatre run expecting a carbon copy of the Olivia Newton-John/John Travolta version of the story, you may be surprised.

Summer Lovin'... Hope Dawe as Sandy with the Pink Ladies (Image: Marc Brenner) First off, the T-Birds are the Burger Palace Boys, named after the café, they hang out at, and this is also their original name in the 1971 theatre production. There will be songs you don’t recognise, like Mooning, which was expressed in the film as the T-Birds mooning during the dance, and Freddy My Love performed by Marty and the Pink Ladies as an ode to her military boyfriend. However, the bones of the 1978 smash-hit film are all there, and there are purists who will say that your ‘version’ of Grease is in fact the watered down version.

The film Grease is often cited as a 70s movie where the language used reflected the times, and perhaps some of the dialogue is no longer suitable, but the original Chicago theatre version was even raunchier, by all accounts. Thankfully, this version is lighter on the un-PC language, but it is still true to the original, with classic put-downs and anti-feminist talk still included.

The order of the story and the songs may leave some of you die-hard Grease (the film) fans wondering what is going on, but there is enough of the hit film version to keep you satisfied, and it stays true enough to the original theatre production to keep the theatre buffs happy too.

Go grease lightnin'... Ben Nicholas excels in the show's energetic performance of Greased Lightnin' (Image: Marc Brenner) The cast is young and excellent, delivering their contributions with passion and humour. A special mention for Hope Dawe as Sandy, who was making her professional debut, and Alicia Belgrade, who played Frenchy with conviction. Marley Fenton as Danny Zuko and Ben Nicholas as Kenickie performed their best friend duo with ease, and Ben excelled himself in his energetic performance of Greased Lightnin'.

If you’re looking for a carbon copy of the film, you may be disappointed, but if you are happy to see one of the world’s favourite musicals in a new, albeit original, light Grease the musical will deliver well-loved characters, 1950s social commentary with depth, teenage angst, comedy, and above all, an opportunity to belt out some of the songs that no doubt defined your youth.

Grease plays at Palace Theatre Manchester until 19 October 2024