Hopelessly Devoted to You

Grease

What can be said about a musical that might even be called a modern-day theatre classic since it’s one of the most often produced musicals in the world? Since the show first appeared at Chicago’s Kingston Mines back in 1971, and then went on to Broadway a year later, albeit more sanitized, “Grease” has truly become “The Word.” For a while it was the longest-running show on the Great White Way. 

After the musical ran for over 3,000 performances on Broadway, it toured the United States several times, inspired a few New York revivals and is now a staple with educational, community, regional and professional theatres. I can’t imagine there’s anyone who hasn’t seen this popular musical, either on stage in any of its many versions, on the silver screen or now on DVD. NBC even developed a reality TV show to cast the two leading roles for the 1971 Broadway revival, and seven years ago the network televised a live presentation of the entire musical. In addition, Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, the show’s original book, music and lyric writers, completely sanitized their script and score to create a G-rated School Version, suitable for younger performers and audiences. So, dear “Grease,” I believe I’m safe in saying that you’d have to search high and low to find anyone who hasn’t become “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”

For the one or two theatergoers unfamiliar with this musical, the plot is pretty simple. It’s Chicago in 1959 and the first day of school. We meet Sandy, an innocent, new transfer student at Rydell High School (played with warmth, sincerity and displaying great musical talent by lovely newcomer Emily Schulthesis). She meets the members of the Pink Ladies gang at lunchtime. Sandy tells Frenchy, Marty, Jan and Rizzo through song about her summer romance with “a boy, cute as can be.” At the same time, Danny, the leader of the Burger Palace Boys (an excellent, good-looking Jake DiMaggio Lopez), is relating the “Summer Nights” he shared with a beautiful new girl in town, who happens to be Sandy. The rest of the show relates their on-again, off-again romance. When Sandy finally decides that, in order to win Danny’s heart, she needs to stop fighting change and adapt a bit to become the girl of his dreams. 

In between their romantic adventures we meet several other students. We get to know Danny’s best buddy, tough guy Kenickie (the always terrific Billy Rude) and his cynical main squeeze, Betty Rizzo (a feisty Alina Taber), the leader of the Pink Ladies. Then there’s Marty, an attractive and flirtatious Pink Lady (played with conviction and confidence by Anna Louise Bramlett) who claims to be engaged to a Marine. However, Marty has no qualms about batting her eyes at radio celebrity, Vince Fontaine (an hilariously smarmy Victor Wallace) at the school dance. Frenchy is a big-hearted bubblehead who’s the first to befriend Sandy. Portrayed by Ciarra Stroud, Frenchy’s not a great student, so she drops out of Rydell High to attend beauty school. Talented Elizabeth Stenholt portrays Jan, the little Pink Lady with the big appetite and a talent for being too blunt. And Patty Simcox is the overly enthusiastic overachiever and Rydell’s head cheerleader, who has a crush on Danny. 

In addition to Danny and Kenickie, the Burger Palace Boys include Sonny (a riotous Jordan Arredondo), who’s constantly in trouble with teacher, Miss Lynch, and who thinks he’s a real Romeo. Ben Dow’s sweet, kinda innocent Doody, the youngest member of the gang, turns shy and tongue-tied around girls, but especially with his crush, Frenchie. He also fantasizes that he’s a rock & roll guitarist and singer, and it turns out he’s quite good. His pal Roger, who’s nicknamed “Rump” because he’s the mooning champ of Rydell High, is attracted to Jan because they both love fast food. He’s played with comical finesse and fervor by talented Nik Kmiecik. 

Some of the other supporting characters include nerdy Eugene Florczyk (August Forman) and musician Johnny Casino (Zac Richey) who performs with his onstage band at the school dance that’s hosted by Vince Fontaine. Teen Angel is soulfully sung by the fabulous Evan Tyrone Martin; Cha-Cha DiGregorio, Danny’s dance partner for the Hand Jive Contest, is the agile Emily Scinto; and intimidating English teacher, Miss Lynch, is portrayed by the always incredible Kyra Leigh.

The playlist for this production includes most of the favorite numbers from every theatrical production, such as “Summer Nights,” “Freddy My Love,” “Mooning,” “Those Magic Changes,” “Born to Hand Jive,” “Beauty School Dropout,” “There Are Worse Things I Could Do,” “We Go Together” and, of course, “Greased Lightnin.’” But this production cuts a couple of the original theatrical tunes in favor of four, more familiar songs from the movie. The show opens with Barry Gibb’s “Grease.” Then in Act II, Emily Schulthesis enchants with a soaring rendition of “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” Instead of “Alone at the Drive-in Movie,” we get Jake DiMaggio Lopez singing “Sandy,” made popular in the film by John Travolta. Finally, the show ends with one of the movie’s biggest hits, “You’re the One That I Want.”

The production is capably directed and beautifully choreographed with effervescent, energetic dance moves by Paul Stancato. He returns to Drury Lane after last season’s hit, “Forever Plaid” and really makes this show rock and roll.  Gorgeously costumed by Rachel Boylan, enhanced by hair and wigs by Emily Young, Stancato’s production is absolutely eye-popping. 

This popular musical, which probably isn’t new to most theatergoers, is a high-octane hit. It’s energetic, delightfully entertaining and features many relatively new, gifted actor/singer/dancers. In addition to being so impressive, the musical encourages us to reminisce about our younger years in high school, or perhaps to simply recall the popular 1978 movie. No matter how many times audiences enjoy this timeless musical, theatergoers will still find they are “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”            

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented April 12-June 4 by Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the Drury Lane box office, by calling 630-530-0111 or by going to www.DruryLaneTheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area shows may be found at www.theatreinchicago.com.