By John Lyle Belden
Though more than six decades have passed, there is something that sparks the imagination about the 1950s, with its big cars, slick and styled hair, and early rock’n’roll.
The college-age performers with Summer Stock Stage have fully tapped into that mystique with their production of the musical “Grease,” directed and choreographed by Audra Bryant. Their grandparents may not even remember the original era, but certainly do the nostalgia wave of the 1970s, punctuated by the musical’s film version (which likely someone is still streaming even now). The current production is sort of a hybrid of the movie and the 1971 Broadway version (by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey), including songs from the former with plot mostly of the latter.
The result is thoroughly entertaining, with Bryant’s choreo bringing out the best of the cast’s dancing talent. Singing is excellent, too: Olivia Broadwater as new girl Sandy lets her voice soar much like her namesake from the film. Mabry Scott Smith takes charge of the Danny Zuko role, as Bryant Cobb does with top T-Bird Kenickie (who gets to sing the praises of “Greased Lightning”). Erin Lambertson gives teen-punk gravitas to her turn as Rizzo, from her taunting “Sandra Dee” to breaking our hearts in “There are Worse Things I could Do.”
As the stage version gives more classmates the opportunity to shine, we get Rayon Lim as Doody with “Magic Changes” reminiscent of a young Ricky Nelson, as well as a charming rendition of “Freddy My Love” by Kha’Lea Wainwright as Pink Lady Marty, and a cheeky duet of “Mooning” by Cajani Romar Hurd and Clairey Huffman as Roger of the T-Birds and Jan of the Pink Ladies. Aleksei Ivar Koslovski is T-Bird Sonny; Sophia Dotson is cutely indecisive Frenchy; Nina Abel is energetic overachiever Patty Simcox; and Justin Taylor Smith is nerdy Eugene (dissed by the others, but still rather likable).
The ensemble players, as Rydel High students, are no less impressive – Jacob Richardson, Sofia Warren-Fitzgerald, and dance captains Anna Seitz and Sam Hulka.
Paige Murray is impressive as Miss Lynch, as is Brianna Gutierrez-Diaz as Cha-Cha. Kana’i Nakata is a natural unabashed scene-stealer as disc jockey Vince Fontaine (who sets up scene transitions as well as working the big dance) and the Teen Angel.
Nostalgic and a little naughty with the hopeful energy of youth, “Grease” is indeed the word. But not for long; remaining performances (as this posts) are Friday through Sunday, June 5-7, at the Schrott Center for the Arts on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Get info and tickets at summerstockstage.com.
Plays with John & Wendy 