Show: Grease
Society: Actors’ Co-operative Theatre of Southampton (ACTS)
Venue: Freemantle United Reformed Church
Credits: by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Type: Sardines
Author: Meri Mackney
Performance Date: 25/07/2019
Grease
Meri Mackney | 31 Jul 2019 14:31pm
The atmosphere is steamy as we go into the hall at the United Reformed Church, which has been home to ACTS for a number of years.
On this hottest day of the year, with the temperature in Southampton climbing to the mid-thirties, the company have thoughtfully provided much needed jugs of water to keep the audience hydrated. We are welcomed by costumed front of house members, who turn out to be the ensemble for the show. The smallish stage has been expanded by two extensions at a lower height, easing both congestion problems and the establishment of different locations. Period music sets the scene.
It would be ridiculous to mention aspects of the plot, which must be known to all, and the stage show bears close similarity to the film. All the best-loved songs are there and are well-sung by this talented cast. Choreography is tight and the cast seem largely comfortable and confident for this opening performance. I must particularly commend those who danced on top of the onstage bench, which looked as though it could have done with a little more support in the middle.
Amy Bennett and Daniel Sims made an attractive couple as Sandy and Danny. Amy in particular has a lovely voice and handled her classic songs convincingly, although it wasn’t always easy to hear her above the backing music which remained overloud throughout. This is often a trick used to cover wobbly vocals but that was not the case here and left the audience straining during the solo and duet numbers. I felt particularly sorry for Doody (Jim Smith), whose microphone appeared to be intermittent and was off during both his solo songs. I was close enough just to be able to make out his vocals but anyone further back would have had no chance.
A performance where all the characters are miced throughout is always open to sound issues and this show was not the exception. Most glaring was major feedback ruining the start to the closing number to the first half, although the cast are to be commended on their attempts to continue in character, while waiting for the music to come through. I hate commenting on technical problems, being acutely aware of the pressure of a job where you often get little to no rehearsal time and any fault is all too obvious to the audience, so, well done to the technical team for getting it sorted.
Given a cast of twenty-three, I can only pick out my highlights: a rousing rendition of Greased Lightning from Kenickie (Howard Corbett, also the musical director) and the Burger Palace Boys (Dave Smith, Jim Smith, Liam Baker); Daniel Sims’ Stranded at the Drive-In; Rizzo’s (Rachael Fielden) There Are Worse Things I Could Do. This last showed a powerful voice and sensitivity, which was moving. It would have been more so had Rizzo, and the rest of the pink ladies, come across as more raunchy in the first place. Maybe a little toned down due to being in a church hall?
Very entertaining was the director, Michael Porter, stepping into the Teen Angel role and clearly loving every minute, maintaining his smile and character even when his ascending swing gave an ominous jerk! The final word has to go to the massively over-the-top wig sported by Vince Fontaine (Steven Hunter).
It was a shame this show had such a short run, as it was deserving of more.
- : admin
- : 25/07/2019