So I finally saw Grease (You're the One That I Want")

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 6:40pm

Since I live out of town, I have to be somewhat selective upon seeing shows when I get to NYC. After purchasing the present revival's cast recording (and enjoying it), I decided to see "Grease" this time around. Granted, after reading things here, I wasn't expecting much, but unfortunately I was both underwhelmed and disappointed. My question is, "How could one go so wrong, with such a fun show?"

Not for lack of talent on the stage, but for some strange reason there just seemed like there was no joy coming from the stage. The cast was definitely NOT on auto-pilot, but something seemed amiss starting with some of the missing or non-existent harmonies in "Summer Nights".

I have really liked Kathleen Marshall's work on "Kiss Me Kate" and "The Pajama Game", but I just can't figure out what (or how) she missed with this production of "Grease".

I liked the staging of "Magic Changes" and the addition of the 3 female backup singers. I also loved Stephen Buntrock and "Beauty School Dropout". From the audience reaction, that seemed to be their favorite number as well. He looked like he was having a blast. And I loved the way he mouthed, "I love you" to certain people in the audience. I also was expecting him to mouth, "call me". He was a hoot. The number was fun and silly just like this show is supposed to be.

A special note about Natalie Hill as Cha-Cha. She was very funny as well. I also noticed she was missing after she exited the stage as Cha-Cha and did not appear in the bows. I'm wondering if she injured herself, or wasn't feeling well. She made the role memorable, just like Jen Cody did in the revival in the 90s.

Out of the women, one of my favorites was Lindsay Mendez as Jan. Her annunciation during her solo in, "Raining on Prom Night" was excellent as people in the audience chuckled at the scenario she painted with that song.

Max and Laura were very good. I also happened to see Max outside Vnyl on 9th Avenue prior to the show as I was entering the restaurant.

I liked the set design, and felt it captured the essence of what the show should have been.

On a side note, the gentleman working the sound board last night was quite annoying. Throughout the show he would say rather loudly, "F-this", "S-that" and tapped the desk top repeatedly to the beat of the music. Hello, I'm trying to enjoy the show.

I really wanted to like this production, but unfortunately I did not.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 6:47pm

Thanks for the review. I've yet to see a good review for this show.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 6:56pm

Natalie doesn't get a bow as Cha-Cha. She takes her bows in her Rydell student costume. She was the one with the straight, dark hair and glasses

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 6:59pm

Thanks, Eris. She definitely wasn't there. I noticed she was missing during, "You're the One that I Want" (as it would have been difficult to miss someone with glasses). And she was missing when the female ensemble took their bows.

Updated On: 2/24/08 at 06:59 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:03pm

The biggest problem is the complete lack of chemistry between Crumm and Osnes. While neither are horrible, they're not that great, either.

Marshall didn't mess up at all. She took the money and ran, like any commercial director without integrity would. (Word has it that Jerry Mitchell has ringers appearing on the Legally Blonde show...smart fella.)

The biggest problem is that she insisted on casting about 15/25 cast members who had never been on Broadway before. This seemed like a great publicity ploy at the time (I can't remember how many articles I read where they have Marshall quoted as saying "and X number of cast members are making their Broadway debut!). Unfortunately, save for Jose Restrepo, Lindsay Mendez, and Natalie Hill, none of them are up to Broadway standards. The result is a summer stock production of Grease that's playing on Broadway.

Marshall's choreography is underwhelming, and her staging isn't anything special, either. She seems to have staged the show with a realistic approach in mind. But GREASE is anything but realistic.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:03pm

Ah, I gotcha. I've heard of some people being confused because she doesn't take her bow as Cha-Cha. I hope she was okay.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 7:06pm

Yankeefan, you hit the nail on the head (though I found Jose's performance bordering on annoying more so than funny).

When Frenchie started "emoting" prior to "Beauty School Dropout", my first reaction was, this isn't Tennessee Williams here!!

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 8:03pm

Holy Cow!

I forgot this thing was still running! Long time in between comments!

Glad you were able to find some redeeming qualities in it!
We couldn't!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 10:18pm

i'm surprised you "enjoyed" the cast recording!

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 10:20pm

Since I live out of town, I have to be somewhat selective upon seeing shows when I get to NYC.

What changed this time around?

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 10:32pm

Glad you had a nice time!

[dominique]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 10:38pm

I'm sorry the show was so disappointing. I think Max, the lead, is talented though. I hope he gets to show that in some other show sometime.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 11:00pm

blaxx, I guess I should have said, I put off seeing the show until now, because there were other shows at the top of my list. Having seen those shows I was able to see Grease this past weekend.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 11:53pm

Thanks for the review.

I almost forget this show is still running until I'm walking down 8th Avenue and that hideous, disgustingly ugly marquee spits in my eyes.

Oh, and I see the show on TKTS all the time as well.

How much did you spend (or should I say, flush)?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 11:56pm

$66. I only spent $37.50 on In the Heights and had a much better time.

I really should have told the sound board guy to knock it off as he really was distracting.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 12:53pm

After listening to both the '94 cast recording and the current revival's recording, I think I actually prefer the present one. The '94 revival was very slick and I remember really liking Jon Secada and Jenn Cody (Cha-Cha). Jen was hysterical in that role. On the flip side, I hated what they did with Teen Angel in the '94 production.

[mmousefan]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 1:13pm

If that kind of sound board thing happens again, probably the best course of action is to speak to an usher or the box office instead of the technician directly. Particularly if they're cussing like that in public, they might not take a polite request well....

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 10:47pm

WBAF loves Grease so much he cannot help himself from commenting on it.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 11:46pm

Well Lynne, I'm always looking out for the well being of my fellow theatregoers.

I'm not one who takes pleasure in seeing others placed in circumstances in which they are filled to the brim with all sorts of excruciating pain.

I'm just not that type of person.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 11:58pm

Dottie - Was the $37.50 from TKTS?

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 5:26am

The fact that you chose to see this production tells me that you must have seen every other show on Broadway or Off Broadway!

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:00pm

WBAF - as fond as I am of you and your sparkling wit, I somehow think you get a sort of perverse enjoyment out of hating what others might enjoy.

You KNOW I liked the show, but it's ok, I see you point of view even if I disagree wildly. I will go see Xanadu so I can see if we can agree on that.

Updated On: 2/26/08 at 04:00 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:08pm

Lynnespock2, when did you see this? The irony is that I'm really enjoying the cast recording. Go figure.

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:17pm

July, August, Sept. and January. As I said, I like the show.