This isn't an official review and I don't see a thread for blogger reviews, so I'm putting this here. Plus, I thought it was an interesting piece, especially concerning the relevancy to today's audience.

Steve on Broadway's comments on Grease

Turns out the reality show casting of Max Crumm and Laura Osnes was the least of Grease director Kathleen Marshall's problems.

Given the fact that the stage version of Grease is really more of a vignette-heavy ensemble piece with nominal leads, the truth is, Crumm and Osnes are just fine.

While their talent suggests that they could very well be more than just a flash in the pan, the accompanying Grease has lost its sizzle and relevancy.

Yes, Marshall has tried her best to give this a fresh kick. Her trademark choreography helps, especially in frenzied, spirited numbers like "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightning" and "Born To Hand Jive."

But in an age when messages are emanating throughout Broadway about the importance of being true to yourself and embracing who you are -- whether through the green power of Elphaba in Wicked or the triumphant self-love of Celie in The Color Purple or even in the omigod girldom ode of Elle in Legally Blonde (not to mention throughout theatres nationally via the highly successful High School Musical tour) -- the underlying message in Grease sets women back fifty years.

//snipped//

Contrary to Ben Brantley's brilliantly funny review, the show doesn't look as cheap as he claims (Derek McLane's set design is much more innovative than that offered in Kathleen Marshall's acclaimed retelling of Wonderful Town, and the costume and lighting designs created by Martin Pakledinaz and Kenneth Posner, respectively, serve to enhance the production). It's just that the characters actually are. Cheap, that is. They're all drawn so narrowly that nuance is most definitely not the word for the show.

The largely capable cast does what it can given the material. That includes Crumm and Osnes, who at least look like they could be high school students and hold their own among a sea of decidedly grown-up, standout faces, including Jenny Powers (Rizzo), Matthew Saldivar (Kenickie), Kirsten Wyatt (Frenchie) and Robyn Hurder (Marty).

As noted above, the original Grease was written as more of an ensemble piece. I dare say that without the additions of the film's score -- "Sandy," "Hopelessly Devoted To You" and "You're The One That I Want" -- the characters of Danny and Sandy would essentially have been marginalized.......


-- Edited by cpathens at 19:46, 2007-08-27