ANDREA WALTERS | staff writer
“We go together like…” I sang all the way home from Hollywood after seeing the musical Grease at the Pantages Theater last week. Grease is my all-time favorite movie, and watching the musical stage version was simply amazing.
It was two hours and 15 minutes of pure musical enjoyment; the singing was unbelievable, the dancing was astonishing and the acting was entertaining. The cast did a wonderful job.
American Idol star Taylor Hicks played Teen Angel, and sold his newest CD after the show. Dominic Fortuna was Vince Fontaine and started out the evening by engaging the audience in his radio show. He even had the little kids from the audience doing the “twist,” “swim” and “monkey.” The seats were full and audience members were enjoying themselves.
Many favorite one-liners from the movie also occurred in the musical, which the audience listened for eagerly. The backdrops and props helped make the scenes pop.
In my opinion, the musical followed the movie pretty well. Still, there were some changes.
For example, in the musical at Pantages, Rizzo sings “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” in the bleachers instead of at Frenchy’s house like in the movie.
In one scene, Teen Angel (Hicks) is talking with Frenchy, and she says, “I voted for you.” The audience burst with laugher because the line was obviously an addition that played upon his past from the show American Idol and not from Grease’s screenplay.
Grease was entertaining from beginning to end. Although there was not a flying car at the end, like in the movie, this did not diminish the show in my mind.
On the Pantages website, tickets for Grease were priced from $25 to $85. However, I’ve found that buying tickets from Goldstar.com is a more economical way to see broadway shows.
Goldstar.com also sells major league baseball tickets, Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament tickets and tickets for the next musical at Pantages, Rain, all for a discounted price. The only stipulation is that the tickets for sale are only within a two-week period.
Overall, the night was filled with great voices, dancing and acting. Although Grease has finished, I would recommend seeing other shows at the Pantages Theater. Upcoming shows include Rain, Mamma Mia!, Dirty Dancing, Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
