Grease The Musical, Milton Keynes Theatre Review

Grease the Musical at Milton Keynes Theatre Monday 23^rd to Saturday August 28^th 2021

Reviewed by Dot White

We had a fabulous night last night at Milton Keynes Theatre as I am sure did the rest of the audience judging by the number of people on their feet at the end clapping happily!

Grease has been around since the original theatre production in 1971 in Chicago, which then moved to Broadway in 1972.  Most of us have at least seen part of the well-known Movie of Grease from 1978.  There have also been many Revivals on stage.   Grease is now doing a UK tour, its storyline being very familiar with many teenagers.

We were immediately transported back to the era in which Grease is set as we entered the auditorium, there was an old radio sitting on the stage with a backdrop showing photos of old-fashioned televisions and radios and a broadcast playing.

As the curtains opened on Danny and Sandy saying their goodbyes at the end of the summer there was great excitement from the audience, and it never stopped throughout the show.  Fabulous well known musical numbers followed one after another including Sandy, Summer Knights, Greased Lightening together with many more.  There wasn’t anything about this show that could be criticised in my opinion.

Danny Zuko played by Dan Partridge and Sandy played by Georgia Louise both played their parts brilliantly as we followed their troubled Romance from the minute, they met again unexpectedly at Rydell High School.

Peter Andre as Teen Angel was absolutely fabulous in his music studio as he played record after record, I was fascinated by his many different shirts, but when he came on stage later as Vince Fontaine the atmosphere in the audience was electric.

The Rydell High School set was expertly created so it could quickly be changed by the cast to create other scenes.  The car appeared on stage a couple of times and was quickly moved around by the cast.

All the costumes were very authentic for the era with jeans and leather jackets for the boys and full skirts and blouses for the girls complete with sneakers and white ankle socks, although there were some students who chose to be different. 

The Pink Ladies played by Tendai Rinomhota as Rizzo, Maeve Byrne as Jan and Inez Budd as Marty were all fantastic, but to me Marianna Neofitou stood out with her portrayal of Frenchy.  They all of course had their trademark pink jackets and tried to include Sandy in their group.

Arlene Philips was the Choreographer for this production of Grease with Richard Roe as the Associate Choreographer.  I couldn’t help focussing on one of the dancers, Alishia-Marie Blake as Cha Cha, she was brilliant!!  Danny’s friends were all fantastic in the song and dance numbers.  It is great to see so many male dancers on stage together.  My granddaughter was watching out for Dom Hutcheson as Mickey.

Mustn’t forget to mention Miss Lynch played by Corinna Powlesland who had the job of keeping the students at Rydell High in order.

There was a live orchestra for this performance which added to the show as it didn’t drown out the musical numbers.  The lighting of course was always perfect in all the scenes.

I can thoroughly recommend that if you haven’t bought tickets already that you buy some.  The Covid precautions taken by Milton Keynes Theatre made us feel very safe and tickets start from as little at £13.00 plus £3.65 transaction fee

Rating: 5/5

For more information and to book tickets please visit Grease Tickets | Milton Keynes Theatre in Milton Keynes | ATG Tickets or phone the box office on 0333 009 6690

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ