GREASE! (1997)
Our seventh production was that of “Grease!” After a number of attempts to get the performing rights we were able to tackle one of the more popular of the more recent stage musicals. For this show, our set builders built a “stage on the stage” to give the set a whole other performing level. Another innovation was to cast the “adults” in the show with adult performers and let the High School students play the characters of their own age. Thus, Ms. Hayhoe (as Miss Lynch), Mr Wade Peary (as Vince Fontaine), Mr. Bruce Nicholson (as Teen Angel), and Yar Recned (as Johnny Casino) joined the cast....and had a great time in the process! Music Director, David Post was joined by Tony de Wit, David McConchie, Diego Testa, Al Klein, Yar Recned, Andrew Parsons (all Yale staff members), and Bill Desjardins (school custodian) as The Gamblers rock ’n’ roll band.
The production broke a record that will never be beaten in the Abbey Arts Centre by selling out every seat for every performance....there was even a waiting list for any returned tickets. It was the only the only production of the twenty-one shows to achieve this landmark. For the most part, the ever-popular “Grease!” proved to be an extremely popular show with the majority of the audience, although there were a few who were critical of the show’s content and “message”. A letter to this effect printed in one of the local newspapers prompted a deluge of responses and even a School Board discussion of a “theatre policy”. This too, provoked still more responses from the public.
Here are a couple of the more favourable reviews of the production: “I though everything about the show was marvellous and equal to any event I have enjoyed at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. ....we laughed and talked for hours afterward and the next day about the fine school spirit demonstrated, with the teachers being involved as actors, singers, and musicians, and about the splendid behaviour of the students and their obvious pride in their work and in each other’s talents.”; ”congratulations on a superb performance...have to say this was outstanding”.
“Grease!” is what is often described as an “ensemble production”.....no stars, but many performers of equal status within the cast. The standing ovations after each and every performance were a testament to the show’s impact....... “Grease!” is still the word!
see also: Memory Lane (Photos) - Grease 1997
