Reviews: Grease - School Edition at Riverside High School
Written by Dylan Truncellito of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
With a flash of headlights and a gleam of shiny polish, greased lightning speeds onto the stage as Riverside High School presents Grease - School Version!
First performed in Chicago in 1971 and opening on Broadway in 1972, Grease follows beachside sweethearts Danny and Sandy. The pair part ways after a lovey-dovey summer, only to find themselves at the same high school in the fall. Sandy gets swept up with the preppy Pink Ladies while Danny struggles to maintain his cool appearances in front of the tough-guy T-Birds. As their cliques clash and love wavers, chaos ensues in a whirl of romance and drama.
Led by the suave Krishnan Patel as Danny Zuko, the T-Birds were rough, rowdy, and ready to rumble. Patel nailed the mannerisms of a rebellious greaser, slicking back his hair when nervous and raising his eyebrows with a smoldering flair. From comedic guitar solos to flashy dance solos, Kenickie (Jojo Smothers), Doody (Sid Bhupalam), Roger (Kai Canales), and Sonny (Henley Ellwanger) all brought a unique energy to the gang of greasers while contributing to the unified whole. Their high-octane energy kept scenes exciting and fun as they mocked their teachers, sang harmonized ballads, and stumbled in their search for love.
Portraying Sandy, Anna Salmon's powerful voice clearly articulated each belt and crisp note, silky smooth vocals ringing through the night. Her forlorn expressions and soulful solos demonstrated her conflictedness as Danny grew distant, and her sultry sashays cemented her switch from reserved to rebellious as she finally changed herself to fit in with the T-Birds.
The student direction team (Krishnan Patel, Robyn Mourad, Megan Sawyer, Anna Salmon) brought clean cohesiveness to the production, seamlessly integrating each element of the musical. Their deep understanding of Rydell High's cliquey atmosphere shone through each scene, careful blocking placing the T-Birds around sprawling bleachers and the Pink Ladies around a crowded cafeteria table. They impressively balanced both acting and directing, and there was never a dull moment under their direction.
From patent-leather jackets to silky pink coats, the costume designers Claire Rice, Naomi Whitworth, Emily Margenau, and Charlie Smith brought the cliques to life with bright logos and clear distinctions. Their designs were simple but effective, highlighting Rizzo's sassiness with sleek dresses and Patty's perkiness with fluffy gowns.
With flashy car scenes and emphatic performances, Riverside High School brought the world of Rydell High to life in their production of Grease - School Edition.
Written by Charlotte Yao of Woodgrove High School
Grease is the word at Riverside High School! Having both groove and heart, their most recent production of Grease was positively electrifying, leaving all hopelessly devoted to their radiant interpretation of a beloved classic.
A vibrant vignette of the 1950s, Grease follows the love story of Danny Zuko and Sandy Ollson, a teenage couple who fall for each other within their summer nights. Upon reuniting at Rydall High School, goodie-two shoes Sandy and rebellious greaser Danny find themselves in turmoil, their relationship put to the test amongst callous drama, conflicting personalities, and formidable cliques. Originating at the Kingston Nightclub in Chicago in 1971, Grease went on to earn 7 Tony nominations. Gracing both West End and Broadway stages across several decades, the beloved musical is massively known worldwide for the successful 1978 film.
Critical in bringing this authentic interpretation of Grease to life was Anna Salmon and Krishnan Patel, starring as the timeless couple, Sandy and Danny. Salmon beautifully captured the innocence of Sandy, crafting her purity and change with distinct physicality and a breathtaking vocal performance across the entire production. Patel's portrayal of Danny brought the audience into the 1950s, exceptionally harnessing classic mannerisms and a striking vocal resonance. Clever character dynamics were key in establishing the life-like environment, and the T-Birds ensemble's unique and distinct characterizations and interactions gave a faithful representation of a group of teenage greasers. Comedic notes within the show were amplified by Patty (Megan Sawyer) and Doody (Sid Bhupalam), whose commitment brought about an immersive and hilarious experience.
The stage was bathed in a warm and inviting light, which was essential in creating an atmosphere that was reminiscent of the nostalgic film. The Lighting Team (Kayla De Borja, Tommy Rae, Nora Carvajal) told a story within spotlights and colors, enhancing the mood within emotional vulnerable scenes through seamless shifts in light. There was never a dull moment within Riverside's production, largely in part to the smooth transitions created by the stage crew (Aly Verm, Abi Reuther, Alyssa Rucker). Their swift, clean movements between scenes maintained the immersion, effortlessly guiding one moment into another. The publicity was critical in pulling together Grease, as Naomi Whitworth, Cassia Price, Sydney Kelly, Megan Sawyer, and Olivia Brown worked diligently to push this production into the community through social media and outreach events. From nursing home performances to a middle school workshop, the Publicity Team's organization and dedication to advertising is undoubtedly praiseworthy.
Riverside High School's Production of Grease was enthralling, transforming their stage into an evocative recreation of the culture, troubles, and relationships of young adults within the decade of poodle skirts and leather jackets. A captivating blend of rich, vibrant performances and thorough technical work, Riverside's Grease is one to remember.
Written by Vinita Adhira of Westfield High School
Full of flashy black leather jackets, the clicks of heels, and high school drama, Riverside High School's Moon River Productions' striking rendition of "Grease: School Version" compels strong vocals and the vibrant 1950s flair.
Grease: School Version retains the fun-loving spirit and immortal songs of the blockbuster show, which first opened on Broadway in 1972. The musical follows new girl, Sandy, and bad boy, Danny, as they navigate through love, reputation, peer pressure, and their future.
Sandy (Anna Salmon) embodies the girl-next-door character with her sweet voice and shy mannerisms. In her musical numbers, Salmon's silken voice is at first soft, portraying her timid character in Act 1. However, in Act 2, as Sandy gains confidence, Salmon's voice fills out into full, rich belts with outstanding breath control in "Hopelessly Devoted to You".
Complementing sweet Sandy is Danny Zuko (Krishnan Patel), leader of the T-Birds; with his smirks and swagger, he charms more than just the ladies of Rydell High School. Switching from falsettos to emotional belts, Patel controls his vocal tones with ease and reaches the hearts of the audience.
With the main dish of romance comes a side of the T-Birds as they add a few comedic skits with their boyish camaraderie. A constant banter defines the group of tightly knit friends as they shove each other around the stage. Even with their outstanding group dynamics, their personalities remain unique. Kenickie's (Jojo Smothers) fresh dance moves epitomize his groovy, cool-guy personality as he exclaims his love for his car during "Greased Lightnin'." On the other side, Doddy (Sid Bhupalam) has no qualms sharing his enthusiastic pursuit of learning the guitar with the world in "Those Magic Changes."
Opposite to the T-Birds were the edgy Pink Ladies with their iconic attitude and the click-clack of their heels. Together they create beautiful harmonies, supporting each other's solos. Marty's (Naomi Whitworth) love letter to her marine in "Freddy My Love" not only reached the audience but also all the way to Freddy with Whitworth's full tones and the light supporting harmonies of the Pink Ladies.
Supporting all the actors on stage and helping bring the audience into the Rydell High Class of '59 were the technical teams of Riverside High School's Moon River Productions. Catching the attention of the audience first were the two spotlight operators as they made figure eights on the grand in the opening scene of "Grease." The lighting team (Kayla De Borja, Tommy Rae, and Nora Carvajal) effectively designed a color scheme that encompasses all the emotions of the show and executed it through the meticulous patterning of gels in all their lights. Another team that thought long and hard about the show was Choreography (Jojo Smothers and Cassia Price). The team kept the classic, lively 1950's dance style and added some modern footwork to the mix. A notable achievement of the team was choreographing slight changes based on the characters. For example, the T-Birds were given a groovier version of the choreography to match their bad boy personalities, and the Pink Ladies were giv
en a few dainty jives.
There is nowhere to hide the newfound energy for the 1950s high school romance that Riverside High School's Moon River Productions "Grease: School Version" ignites, as it throws the audience into the thrills of high school love.