'Grease' at Post University - My Review

The Post University Theatrical Players present a show each year as a community service and do not charge admission. I have attended two of their shows in the past, Little Shop of Horrors and last year's Avenue Q. Both were directed by campus director of security Bob Tansley and included many university students. This year Mr. Tansley chose the show Grease; this director has a knack for choosing shows that no one else is doing. When I e-mailed for a reservation for opening night, he graciously invited me to attend one of the final dress rehearsals with the invited college students.

The director shared with me that of the 24 students in the cast of Grease, 18 of them had never done a show in their life. This would be a challenge for any director, but not for Mr. Tansley. This is a man who worked with two completely different casts when he directed the young people involved with the huge theatre group at Blessed Sacrament School, so nothing scares him. This year he tells me that the number of young actors involved in Annie at Blessed Sacrament is over 100 and has been once again double cast.

Mr. Tansley likes to have the university cast perform in front of a friendly audience before opening night so the newbies get used to having people watch them.  "The kids are having a great time but this could be a rough one. The good thing is that 16 of them are underclassmen so the future looks bright. This will be no Avenue Q, but it will be fun and that’s what shows here at Post is all about." The students that I saw at this rehearsal were definitely having a great time onstage as they performed for approximately 50 of their peers.

The sparkly set was designed by Anthony Medaglia and featured huge blocks that were turned a quarter turn by the cast and crew members to change the location. This is a tight space but it all worked well; Mr. Tansley has done a great job of staging the show within its confines. The costumes designed by Jennifer Tansley were very fifties and featured pink satin jackets for the girls and black leather jackets for the boys. The lighting and sound issues will be worked out by opening night. The smallish band conducted by Keith Wilson sounded great from the side of the audience.

Toby Henst of Cheshire (Princeton in Avenue Q) was an impressive Johnny Casino. WAMS gradulate Ben Orlando, who played Rod in Avenue Q, was super in the lead role of Danny Zuko; he moves confidently onstage and has a wonderful voice. I remembered Ray DelValle as the evil dentist in Little Shop and half of Trekki Monster in Avenue Q and he did a fine job as Sonny LaTierri.

Shanna-Kay Anderson, who also appeared in Avenue Q, was  adorable as Patty Simcox.  Last year Alicia Mala was a puppet's right hand, but here she came into her own in the title role of Sandy. Micai Tucker (Gary Coleman last year) returns to the stage as Marty.

Other standouts in this cast included Wesley Irizarry who owned the role of Eugene Florczyk, Kelsey Knecht as Jan, Joshua Moses as Roger, Natalie Gutierrez as Frenchy (with two different wigs!) and Kristine Bellemare as Cha-Cha DiGregorio. Cindy Deschenes played the adult Miss Lynch and Jesse Perez played both Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel very well.

Kelly Marchand was a natural in the role of  Doody. Sara Hart both acted and sang beautifully as the saucy Betty Rizzo and Michael MacDonald had a great stage presence as Kenickie.

The ensemble worked together beautifully in all the production numbers. Mr. Tansley's daughter Brooke (yes, THAT Brooke Tansley!) choreographed the dance numbers and the students did a great job with them.

The bad news is that all. Be warned that there is some slightly racy innuendo, a few bad words and (fake) cigarette smoking that all fit the period.