Looking for the perfect antidote to Trump, Brexit and a second general election in two years? Well, here you go! Anything that can light up a miserable, wet Monday evening in Bristol as effectively as this definitely has the necessary medicinal properties!

Directed by the vastly experienced David Gilmore and pumped up by the exuberant style of ex Hot Gossip founder and choreographer Arlene Phillips, this touring production of Grease is nothing if not pure show business. Peppered with a string of foot-tapping, roof-raising hits such as Greased Lightnin’, Shakin’ At The High School Hop and You’re The One That I Want, tonight’s crowd went home in high spirits after two hours of sheer unadulterated escapism!

Set in the late 1950s, the principled Sandy Dumbrowski and heart throb and leader of the T-Birds gang, Danny, are surprised to find themselves thrown together in their final year at Rydell High School, USA, after a summer fling. They then navigate their burgeoning relationship alongside a flotilla of fellow hormone-fuelled students to a back score of pulsating early rock n’ roll, in a world of diners, drive-in movies and college balls.

Stepping into Olivia Newton John’s and John Travolta’s shoes can never be easy. The stars of the 1978 film version of Grease will always remain the story’s iconic ambassadors. Tom Parker, of boy-band ‘The Wanted’ fame, steps up as leader of the T-Birds gang, Danny, while Danielle Hope, who has starred as Éponine in Les Misérables, plays the pretty and principled Sandy.  With tough acts to follow, these two did reasonable jobs, Hope having the voice that could suddenly explode from ordinary to remarkable, Parker having the stage presence necessary to convince as a ‘leader’.

From the off, there was a party atmosphere as the band was revealed above and behind the main stage area, introduced by the luxuriantly pony-tailed musical director, Griff Johnson. These guys really rocked, with some gorgeous tone evident from saxophonist Dave Web, guitarist Eddie Tatton and trumpeter Mick Goulden.

For the most part the stage remained clear for the company to express their dance routines, but there were nicely detailed roll-on backdrops that included a diner bar, the ‘bleacher’ seats at the college football ground, the Starlite drive-in movie and a garage, while Danny’s beat up Chevy got the full ‘Pimp My Ride’ treatment. Audience-aimed, retina-burning spotlights and fireworks all contributed to the general ‘in-your-face’ production.

There was good support all round, with Oliver Jacobson winning my ‘voice of the night’ with his excellent rendering of ‘Mooning’ with Rosanna Harris as Jan. Natasha Mould as the steamy Cha Cha made an impression with her high kicks, while Louisa Lytton’s Rizzo provided some edge to the general homeyness of the story. Veteran crooner Jimmy Osmond enjoyed milking the crowd during his cameo appearance as the Teen Angel.

For some simple feel-good, escapist razzmatazz, head on down to the Hippodrome!  ★★★★☆     Simon Bishop     6^th June 2017