The GREASE Lightnin’ Experience I’ll Remember Forever

Before we went to see the musical last Friday, my friend asked me “Have you seen the movie version of Grease?”  She was completely taken aback when I said “No.”  She almost beat me.  Being a Broadway musical buff as I am, how could I  even NOT watch Grease?  Honestly, I just happened to see the clips on YouTube and  I’m familiar with the songs (I mean, who isn’t, with iconic tunes such as “Hopeless Devoted to You”, “Summer Lovin” and “Grease is the Word”).  That’s about it. But watching

9 Works Theatrical’s restaging of Grease (winner of  2013 PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay Award for Outstanding Production of an Existing Material for a Musical)  really had me a blast.  The instant Sandy (Tippy Dos Santos) and Danny (Guji Lorenzana) opened the scene as they exchange their promise of a love story one summer night under the  starlight, I knew this show’s got to tell me more.

photo credit: 9 Works Theatrical Instagram page

The gauge of a good play or a musical lies in its power to captivate and engage the audience all throughout the duration of the show. Undeniably, Grease left me smiling through its unforgettable music and  enthralling choreography.  That made me thankful for not watching the movie version, which spared me from”benchmarking” the performance with that of the musical.  I love the dance numbers, particularly “Grease Is the Word”, “Born to Hand Jive”, and “We Go Together.”  The moves and the groove transported me back to the 50s, with the cast strutting their stuff in poodle skirts and leather jackets.  Dancing while belting out songs may be a difficult task, but the execution of both made the performance almost flawless.

For me, Steven Silva and Rafa Siguion-Reyna were a revelation.  Silva proved, more than his heartthrob mien, he has the musical talent to boast.  I was blown away with his rendition of “Born to Hand Jive” and “Beauty School Dropout” as Johnny Casino/Teen Angel.  Siguion-Reyna as Kenickie has the swag and shake to be Danny Zucko, too. “Grease Lightnin” was totally entertaining.

More veteran than the rest of the cast with her theatrical background, Tippy Dos Santos was endearing as Sandy Dumbrowski.  Guji Lorenzana would have given a stronger and suave take on the character of Danny Zucko, but I bet his voice left the girls swoon and giggle. Antoinette Taus truly marked her comeback as the sarcastic Betty Rizzo.  Her voice sync in with her character – strong yet sensitive – especially when she blurted out in a song “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” during the confrontation scene with Sandy.

photo credit: 9 Works Theatrical Instagram page

Grease opens the window of how teenage life was during the 1950s.  The production design and the costumes simply scream hairstyle, petticoats, and black jackets.  The speaking lines sounded like the 1950, but at times the delivery seemed a bit unclear (audio problem perhaps).  Those colorful outfits radiate the vibrance of the period. The retro mood made me forget I am in the 21st century.

Still, the theme transcends cultural boundaries, and the struggles of the youth then were still relatable until today – love, friendship, and acceptance. Truly it was a night that I shall remember forever.