GREASE THEATRE REVIEW
Why Grease is still the word at the Piccadilly Theatre
Since the West End musical Grease recently celebrated its 1,000th performance at London's Piccadilly Theatre, it could be time for anyone who has not yet had the chance to check the musical out to head down to theatreland and enjoy it.
Since it returned to London in July 2007, almost 900,000 people have watched the classic show and it has been extended numerous times to cope with demand for theatre tickets.
So what is it that gives Grease its lasting appeal? The show began life as a musical in 1972, but really shot into the public eye with the release of the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John.
It tells the story of a group of students at Rydell High, who are about to graduate in 1959. New girl Sandy joins the ranks and is thrilled to see that Danny, her holiday romance, is also a student there.
However, when he brushes her off to retain his cool image, she is devastated. Danny eventually realises that he loves Sandy and that she is more important than his public persona, and when the prim schoolgirl also reinvents herself as a catsuit-wearing vamp, he falls at her feet and the couple finally get back together.
Why no-one can resist Sandy and Danny's love story - and those great songs
The feel-good storyline and the presence of hits like Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin' and of course You're The One That I Want, made the film a smash hit and renewed an interest in the stage version that has never waned.
In fact, it is now the Piccadilly Theatre's longest running show and Broadway's 12th most popular musical ever.
Audiences of all ages love Grease's mixture of pop culture - with those who remember the 1950s recognising some of the things that shaped their youth - and its willingness to deal with important issues. For example, the abrasive Rizzo undergoes a pregnancy scare, while Sandy is picked on for being a 'goody two-shoes'.
However, audiences and critics also adore the lighter side of the musical, with the Mirror calling Grease "fast, furious and thrilling, an injection of raw energy ... and fun, fun, fun".
Director David Gilmore explained: "Grease … gives a flavour of being a teenager in the '50s when rock'n'roll and putting Grease on your hair were the most important things in life and this is the level that we should take it on."
This could be the perfect time to book theatre tickets for Grease and enjoy an all-singing, all-dancing show that is sure to have you leaving the West End with a spring in your step!