JOIN USMemories of a bygone era
After all, Grease is one of the most performed musicals of all times.
It has influenced generations of people and given a new identity to the youth and rebels.
The musical was recently performed in the City at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall and certainly charmed the Bangaloreans.
The stage was set and yes, the evening was all about song and dance.
The audience, waiting to be swooned by the popular musical, was not disappointed at all.
The play was directed by Leila Alvares and though the version didn’t have John Travolta shaking a leg, the stage was still full of energy and vibrant with music.
In the musical, two teenagers Danny and Sandy fall in love with each other over one summer after which, they are forced to return to their lives.
While reminiscing about their short summer love, they are shocked to find themselves as the leaders of two fighting groups in the same high school.
While Danny is the leader of the ‘T-Birds’, a group of guys in black-jackets who roam around in bikes, Sandy hangs out with the ‘Pink Ladies’, a group of girls wearing pink.
And in spite of their apparent affection for each other, the difference in their cultures and upbringing creates a drift between the two.
The play depicts an era in America, when the working class youth known as ‘Greasers’ moved around with bikes and had grease in their hair, something they thought was an expression of rebellion.
The joy and pain of young love, problems of class divide and many other issues formed a part of the story told very effectively by the troupe.
And though there were some changes made in the original script to suit the Indian audiences, it was the performances that made the musical highly enjoyable.
The play featured actors Neville De Nazareth, Niharika Parthasarathy and Arvind Kasturi among others.
All the actors were as spunky as they could be and performed energetic dance routines and popular numbers.
The musical recreated the look of the early rock and roll era with songs such as Greased Lightning,
You’re The One That I Want and the extremely popular Summer Nights which has been the anthem of lovesick youngsters for decades.
With amazing music playing right in front of them, it was hard for the
spectators to keep their feet down on the ground and not break into a dance.
The vibrant musical, an ode to young love in the bygone era, remains a timeless classic and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present.