“Grease” is the Word at Onstage Playhouse
Words by Kristen Fogle
Chula Vista's downtown streets sometimes recall a time of the past, but theater going audiences in the area will truly be treated to a time warp when they visit Onstage Playhouse for “Grease”—the popular musical set at Rydell High in good ol’ 1959.
Though the film version of “Grease” came after the stage musical (in 1978—almost seven years after the theater production), people are still more familiar with the version starring a dreamy John Travolta and a ravishing Olivia Newton John. And the on stage musical version is really only slightly different. In both Sandy and Danny meet during the summer and have a whirlwind courtship; never thinking that they will see each other again, when the two learn that they are attending the same high school, they come to find out they are complete opposites—Sandy is sweet and soft, Danny a bit rough and tumble. In fact both versions feature much of the same dialogue. And though the stage version features many musical favorites from the movie: “Beauty School Dropout,” “We Go Together,” and of course, “Greased Lightning” among them, there are other great numbers sung by the cast in the stage version that were instrumentals or served as background music in the film version: “Freddy, My Love,” “Mooning,” and “Alone at a Drive-In Movie” are just a few. (Also, don’t expect the teary eyed “Hopelessly Devoted to You” or the extremely catchy “You’re the One That I Want” to make an appearance.) But don't despair; these additions/subtractions do nothing to tarnish the Rydell you know.
And Onstage has the musical talent to pull through: the live band, which played visibly on stage left, are quite gifted and backed up the vocals of notables such as Sandy, played by Alyssa Anne Schecter, Marty (Jennifer Purviance), Roger (Jimmy Christiansen), and Rizzo (Meredith Russo). The whole group, which I felt was cast quite a bit older than is customary, is mostly talented vocally; it also helps that many of them have played together at Coronado Playhouse; in particular, many of them did "The Drowsy Chaperone.”
Director Thomas Fitzpatrick had a lot cut out for him in utilizing Onstage's smallish space for a show that utilizes all 15 characters for the majority of the show. Fortunately, he made good use, keeping the band, as said, sequestered to the side of the stage, and allowing the actors to utilize the middle space by only occupying it with a few lockers and bleachers, which served the group numbers well. The set was also adorned well to put us back in the era; pictures of Shirley Temple, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Ann Margaret, and Bobby Darren shared the stage with familiar icons and items like Coca Cola, MGM, A&W, and 45 records. Perhaps the most stunning accomplishment is the Greased Lightning car, though: it’s small, but it looks the part…and it drives!
Onstage continually surprises, and I am finding that is hard to know what to expect from the group. This stage saw such diverse shows as “Elephant Man,” “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Pride and Prejudice,” and “Diary of Anne Frank” (to name a few) last season alone. Ringing in the new season is “Incorruptible” next, followed by “The Lion in Winter” (which people loved over at North Coast Rep where the play closed not long ago). Later on in the season is favorite “Charlie's Aunt” and “To Gillian on her 37th Birthday.” It's always a surprise what will be turned out, so stay tuned for what is to come at the only live theater in the South Bay.
Chula Vista's downtown streets sometimes recall a time of the past, but theater going audiences in the area will truly be treated to a time warp when they visit Onstage Playhouse for “Grease”—the popular musical set at Rydell High in good ol’ 1959.
Though the film version of “Grease” came after the stage musical (in 1978—almost seven years after the theater production), people are still more familiar with the version starring a dreamy John Travolta and a ravishing Olivia Newton John. And the on stage musical version is really only slightly different. In both Sandy and Danny meet during the summer and have a whirlwind courtship; never thinking that they will see each other again, when the two learn that they are attending the same high school, they come to find out they are complete opposites—Sandy is sweet and soft, Danny a bit rough and tumble. In fact both versions feature much of the same dialogue. And though the stage version features many musical favorites from the movie: “Beauty School Dropout,” “We Go Together,” and of course, “Greased Lightning” among them, there are other great numbers sung by the cast in the stage version that were instrumentals or served as background music in the film version: “Freddy, My Love,” “Mooning,” and “Alone at a Drive-In Movie” are just a few. (Also, don’t expect the teary eyed “Hopelessly Devoted to You” or the extremely catchy “You’re the One That I Want” to make an appearance.) But don't despair; these additions/subtractions do nothing to tarnish the Rydell you know.
And Onstage has the musical talent to pull through: the live band, which played visibly on stage left, are quite gifted and backed up the vocals of notables such as Sandy, played by Alyssa Anne Schecter, Marty (Jennifer Purviance), Roger (Jimmy Christiansen), and Rizzo (Meredith Russo). The whole group, which I felt was cast quite a bit older than is customary, is mostly talented vocally; it also helps that many of them have played together at Coronado Playhouse; in particular, many of them did "The Drowsy Chaperone.”
Director Thomas Fitzpatrick had a lot cut out for him in utilizing Onstage's smallish space for a show that utilizes all 15 characters for the majority of the show. Fortunately, he made good use, keeping the band, as said, sequestered to the side of the stage, and allowing the actors to utilize the middle space by only occupying it with a few lockers and bleachers, which served the group numbers well. The set was also adorned well to put us back in the era; pictures of Shirley Temple, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Ann Margaret, and Bobby Darren shared the stage with familiar icons and items like Coca Cola, MGM, A&W, and 45 records. Perhaps the most stunning accomplishment is the Greased Lightning car, though: it’s small, but it looks the part…and it drives!
Onstage continually surprises, and I am finding that is hard to know what to expect from the group. This stage saw such diverse shows as “Elephant Man,” “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Pride and Prejudice,” and “Diary of Anne Frank” (to name a few) last season alone. Ringing in the new season is “Incorruptible” next, followed by “The Lion in Winter” (which people loved over at North Coast Rep where the play closed not long ago). Later on in the season is favorite “Charlie's Aunt” and “To Gillian on her 37th Birthday.” It's always a surprise what will be turned out, so stay tuned for what is to come at the only live theater in the South Bay.
“Grease”
4/27-5/26
Onstage Playhouse
291 Third Ave.
Chula Vista, CA
www.onstageplayhouse.org
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