The Catskill Chronicle

Review by Carol Montana

FORESTBURGH, NY (July 31, 2013) – It’s hard to imagine a better vehicle for the Forestburgh Playhouse than “Grease,” the singingest, dancingest high school musical of all time (with apologies to all the “High School Musical” and “Glee” fans out there.)

After all, the resident acting company at the Forestburgh Playhouse mostly look like they are just barely out of high school themselves, all fresh-faced, young and enthusiastic. Who could possible have more energy?

And energy is what this stellar cast puts into the show, singing and dancing up a storm.

“Grease” is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Familiar to many of the audience members who have either seen the play before or watched the film of the same name, the story takes place in 1959 at Rydell High School. It’s the start of a new school year and involves, as its main focus, teenage love. And it doesn’t shy away from such social issues as teenage pregnancy, sexual awakening, social ranking and even some gang violence.

But mostly, “Grease” is just a lot of fun, with a rock and roll score that had the audience clapping and swaying along, from the wonderfully upbeat “Summer Nights” (tell me more, tell me more …) to the happy ending of the tongue-twister “We Go Together” (like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong – not sure just how they sing that song – Dip dadip dadip doowop da doobee doo?)

To this day, “Grease” reigns as a very popular show for community theatres, high schools and regional theatres such as Forestburgh. And is it any wonder, with songs like “Greased Lightning,” performed by the energetic and athletic Michael Starr as Kenickie, or “Those Magic Changes” sung by the golden voice of Tony Clements as Doody. How about “Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee,” sung with deliciously dripping sarcasm by Chiara Trentalange as Rizzo, and “Beauty School Dropout” performed by the absolutely perfect Russell Mernagh as Teen Angel (don’t know about the rest of the audience, but his voice and blue eyes had me swooning. Thank goodness I was sitting down.) And then there’s the show-stopping “Born to Hand Jive” sung by Sean Buckley who easily embodies the heartthrob Johnny Casino.

In fact, the entire cast was just ideal, including Lori James, a real-life school principal playing the no-nonsense (with the heart-of-a-rock-and-roller) principal Miss Lynch, the irrepressible Kevin Confoy as the bigger-than-life and slimy DJ Vince Fontaine, and Matthew Fairlee as the colorful nerd Eugene, who you just can’t help but smile at. The “Burger Palace Boys (a.k.a “greasers”) are great, and the “Pink Ladies” are picture-perfect.

And it’s hard to imagine a better couple to play the leads than Ryan DeNardo as Danny Zuko and Grace Morgan as Sandy Dumbroski. Both are very attractive and have exceptionally fine voices. The thing that makes them perfect, though, is a chemistry, an intangible that’s hard to put into words. But it’s not hard at all to believe that they’re in love, because the audience easily becomes smitten. DeNardo is tall, talented and commanding. And Morgan? Well, she’s just so cute, so sweet, so girl-next-door … it’s impossible not to fall in love with her.

The well-utilized and colorful set is by Harlan D. Penn, and period costumes by Gretchen Halle work very well (except for one very distracting costume near the end of the show).

Kudos to Director and Choreographer Maggie Anderson and the entire “Grease” cast for a feel-good, fun and well done musical.

“Grease” plays through August 11 at the Forestburgh Playhouse, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. with matinees on Wednesday and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. (no evening performances on Sunday). For additional information visit http://www.fbplayhouse.org/ or call the box office at 845-794-1194.