Grease is the World

I could have blogged this last Sunday but due to my sudden sickness, I will only upload this now. Don’t worry, I’m fine now. 

Okay, so last Saturday, November 30, 2013, I was able to watch 9 Works Theatrical’s ‘Grease’ at RCBC Plaza. When I first entered the Carlos P. Romulo theater, I was shocked, I felt a sudden déjà vu of my first experience watching a play (Mamma Mia! at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo in CCP) – I was seated at the topmost seat, near the aisle. Looking down to the orchestra made me a bit dizzy. But after a while, I got accustomed to the view and started appreciating the theater. As I observe, the theater slowly filled up and moments before the show started, the theater was jam-packed that during the intermission, it is a bit hard to get inside the restroom.

Then the lights dimmed and the show began – it was so awesome! The play was a bit different from John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s Grease, but their difference did not make the production less impressive, in fact I can say that it was better! One difference of the production from the original screenplay was the rearranged sequence of the songs. Instead of having Rizzo sing “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” during the girls’ sleepover, she sang it in a school scene. The famous song of Sandy, “Hopelessly Devoted to You” was sung during the school ball instead of the girls’ sleepover. And lastly, “We Go Together” was sung before the school ball and as the last number, instead of having it solely as the last number.

Another difference was the changed singer and receiver of few songs like “Grease Lightning” and “There are Worse Things I Could Do”. In the production, Kenickey was the one who sang “Grease Lightning” instead of Danny and Rizzo sang “There are Worse Things I Could Do” to Sandy instead of Kenickey.

The last difference I noticed was the little change in the book: Chacha was less significant in the production, unlike in the movie wherein she stole Danny from Sandy. Speaking of Sandy, she was not present in the school ball. She sang “Hopelessly Devoted to You” in a soliloquy manner while the kids in the school ball danced to it. The cheerful cheerleader (Sab Jose) was given more emphasis in the play. There was also the absence of the race scene which was understandable – how on earth will you stage that in a theater? Lastly, instead of having Kenickey learn about Rizzo’s false pregnancy in a drive inn, he learned it during a night out with the gang (Danny missing and Sandy present because ‘You are only invited because we need your player’ according to Rizzo).

Now to the technicals. The most impressive thing about the production was the lightings they used. The whole stage was framed by lights and there are always the colorful effect lights that made the play livelier than ever. I can honestly say that the production was definitely child-friendly; too bad the season was over. The most effective lighting was done during the school ball. That scene is just so hard to describe, the only thing I can say is that IT WAS SOOOOOOOOO AWESOME!

Another impressive technicality was the live band. Initially, I thought that since the theater was quite small, and there was no pit, there will be no live accompaniment… boy was I wrong. Once the curtain was raised, the live band was revealed. They were sitting on a mezzanine-like structure above the stage. And when they started playing, ‘Grease’ was modernized – the setting was still made as if it was the 50’s or 60’s but the music was more rock-like.

The casts’ costumes were just so cute. They were made to the liking of the 50’s and 60’s fashion, which I honestly like and wish to wear.

Let us discuss now the actors. My gosh! They are just so awesome! They have impressive sets of lungs and wonderful voices, most especially Francheska Farr who played Sandy. In all honesty, I was a bit doubtful when I learned she was playing Sandy. But when the curtains raised and she and Gian Magdangal who played Danny entered the stage, my doubts flew out the window – she was sooooooo good! Speaking of Gian Magdangal, he was just perfect for Danny. He naturally has this air of slight airiness that Danny has (well, at least on screen). Rafa Siguion-Reyna played Kenickey and I knew that his mom and grandma were so proud of him. He, together with the girl playing Rizzo (Jennifer Blair-Bianco) was so perfect! They have this effective chemistry that made me convinced with their performance. The rest of the cast were so good which made the production successful.

However, a personal favorite of mine is Sir Franco Laurel who played the Teen Angel (you know, the guy in white who sang “Beauty School Drop Out” to Frenchie). I have only seen him live once in ‘Isa Pang Soap Opera’ in Virgin Labfest 8 at CCP, and a few times on TV, but I can easily say that he is such a great actor and he gave justice to himself through his performance. During his scene, everyone in the balcony was laughing so hard, I guess it meant that everybody was convinced with his portrayal of the Teen Angel.

Whenever I watch Grease at home, as well as when I listen to my playlist of Grease, I would often skip “Beauty School Drop Out”, probably because the Teen Angel then was quite boring. But Sir Franco gave him a new face, making me like the Teen Angel now.

Watching the show made me want to become a performer someday.

Overall, the show was great. Even though I was not really supposed to watch it, I enjoyed myself and I can say that the show was worth watching. For those who were unable to watch it, well, too bad, haha!