Vectorbabe said: I would love to see the original.
This will definitely not be it. It's a "blending" of the original stage version and the 1978 film adaptation - - - it's a Paramount Television production and since they produced the film, this live version leans more in that direction in content and style.
In this adaptation they did manage to re-instate several numbers from the original Broadway score that were either deleted altogether or used as background music/filler in the film version.
The numbers that have been re-instated are: "Freddy, My Love", Those Magic Changes" and "Rock and Roll Party Queen".
From what I've seen and heard that original 1972 Broadway production of "Grease" was a true parody of 1950s style, mannerisms and mores. It was never intended to be a realistic look at 1950s high school life.
It was really a satiric valentine to that era. It could be a bit crude and was rough around the edges, but it was a heightened reality, it was always a bit cartoonish and some of the characters (in particular the guys) came off as buffoonish in their execution.
Some people call the 1978 version "sanitized" and in some respects it is and in some it really is not. Case in point: some of the situations and dialogue in the film is clearly not meant for young children.
When Danny scoffs Sandy at the Rydell pep rallt and she leaves in a huff after telling him "I wish I never laid eyes on you" one of the T-Birds retorts: "I bet that's not all she's laid on".
Kenickie tells one of the T-Birds to "eat meat"...meaning suck his you-know-what
During "Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee" the ladies at one point spread their legs wide open when Rizzo sings the line: "I'm no object of lust".
Rizzo's conversation with the T-Birds outside of Frenchy's house is particularly "out there".
She asks Danny if he's going to "flog his log" - - - alluding to masturbation.
When Rizzo gets into Kenickie's car with the other T-Birds in it, Sonny exclaims: "What is this a gang bang?" - - - alluding to an orgy or group sex.
The scene between Rizzo and Kenickie in the back of his car attempting to have sex is definitely not fodder for the kiddies.
The song "Greased Lightining" is rife with double entendres and John Travolta takes a roll of Saran Wrap and rubs it on his crotch.
There are others, and some of these double entendres may go over some young viewers heads at to what their actual meaning is, but still they are there ,,, making the 1978 film version of "Grease" less cotton candy than people have made it out to be.
It will be interesting to see how they've adapted all of this material because it is television after all and you can only do and say so much....it also airs at 7 PM...so I doubt we'll have Kenickie say "eat meat" at the 7:30 pm mark.
They already got rid of the smoking....this may turn out to be the most G-rated version of the musical.
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