It’s Electrifying! – ‘Grease’ Reviews
If you’ve been lucky enough to watch our whole School musical performance of Grease this week, you’ll know just how fantastic it was and why we had such a stunning review from the EADT earlier this week; you can read that review here https://www.eadt.co.uk/things-to-do/woodbridge-school-seckford-theatre-grease-8694044
We’ve also had the opportunity to see the show and wanted to share our own review. Huge congratulations to all who took part, worked on the many elements of the show, from the technicians to the set builders, performers and our wonderful staff – you’ve all worked incredibly hard and the show brilliant, an absolute delight for the senses!
Grease, Woodbridge School musical performance, Thursday 17 February 2022
From the moment the lights went up on stage at The Seckford Theatre this evening, it was clear that the cast of Grease were ready to give the audience a night to remember. The opening number was electric and set the tone for the wonderful performances that were to follow. It is no mean feat fitting a huge cast of 114 on stage, and making it look so effortless is another thing entirely. The set and staging were wonderfully kitsch and transported us instantly to 1959 America.
The T Birds and the Pink Ladies were cheeky, fun and absolutely hilarious. They had great chemistry as groups, whilst maintaining a clear sense of individual character. The ladies had great back and forth and I, for one, would jump at the chance to be invited to a sleepover at Marty’s house! The boys held nothing back during ‘Greased Lightning’, as their tangible enjoyment swept over the audience and was fun beyond doubt.
James played an endearing Doody and blew us away with ‘Those Magic Changes’; the piece was understated and surprisingly beautiful.
Tom gave an incredible performance as Danny. It takes amazing stamina to maintain such a high level of energy for this kind of show, but Tom did so with ease and as an audience member, I felt completely safe in his confident hands. Ella played Sandy as the perfect girl-next-door until her fantastic transformation in ‘You’re The One That I Want’.
Alexander was a true Romeo as ‘Teen Angel’; he utterly charmed the audience and did so with total ease. The chemistry between Teen Angel and Frenchy, played by Lakisha, was magnetic and joyous to watch.
Esme was perfectly annoying as Patty Simcocks, practically vibrating with her love for Danny and distaste for pretty much anyone else. Her characterisation was lovely, and beautifully maintained throughout the whole show.
There is a great deal of pressure on the lead roles in any show, but it was clear tonight that the hard work, dedication and commitment of those in leading parts, truly paid off. However, our T Birds and Pink Ladies couldn’t provide such admirable performances without the support of a truly fantastic ensemble. Each member of the cast should be unbelievably proud of their work and effort over the recent months.
The show’s choreography was incredible and pulled off brilliantly by all involved. To retain all those moves and perform them with a smile is a truly enviable skill, one the whole cast has mastered. One of my favourite moments was the opening of the second half, where the whole cast took over the stage, dancing and singing with such energy, it was impossible not to be swept up in their excitement. The band were faultless throughout and allowed for all the actors to shine during their solos and dazzle during whole company numbers.
Overall, I think it is safe to say that Woodbridge School’s rendition of Grease was an utter delight. There was not a single member of the audience who didn’t leave the theatre feeling better than when they arrived, which means the cast and crew did their jobs brilliantly. And as always, a production succeeding at this level would simply not be possible without the endless hard work, dedication and support of Woodbridge School’s Drama Department.
For some of the cast this will be their final show at Woodbridge. They have been dedicated members of team drama and involved in so many productions throughout their time at the School, special mentions and congratulations to them and thank you for your dedication, hard work and energy: Lakisha, Lottie, Talia, William, Beatrice, Ruben, Oliver, Tom and Ella.
Flora Douglas.
