BY CHRISTINA TASCON

After a spectacular season filled with rich drama on both stages at Riverside Theatre, Grease was a breezy skip down memory lane.

Audiences were singing along and laughing in all the right places as they enjoyed this light hearted musical about the students at Rydell High School in the 50’s.

The show is a collaboration between Riverside Theatre and the prestigious, Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia written originally for Broadway by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs.

The cast did an excellent job of singing and dancing their way through the black leather jacket and poodle skirt years.

Grease’s songs were familiar to most of the audience because of the 1978 movie but the play was slightly rearranged to fit the stage.  Don’t worry if you miss one of your favorites in the order you are used to in the movie because they are all still there.

For instance, Rizzo (played by Kate Fahrner) sings “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” to Sandy after a party and Sandy (played by Laura Giknis) sings “Hopelessly Devoted to You” as she sits alone in her bedroom instead of at the Football Pep Rally.   Both adjustments actually seems to work better for the story than where they were originally placed in the movie.

Giknis’ voice has a  wonderful, country flavor as she sings that song in particular and it made the audience really feel her teenage heartbreak.

Also watch for the subtle comedic scenes by Mary Martello as Miss Lynch; the oversexed cheerleader Patty Simcox played by Tracey Dunn, and the more slapstick humor of Adolpho Blaire as Roger.  All of the characters held their own but these three were standouts in their non-lead roles.

The crowd really came alive when the entire cast were on stage singing and dancing to “Born to Hand Jive,”  “We Go Together,” and of course the most recognizable hit “The One That I Want.”

The big dance contest at the high school was a favorite in the show–very high energy and Eric Kunze as Vince Fontaine was fantastic as the WAXX star with smooth moves which left both Marty and Miss Lynch breathless.

Grease had the whole audience so caught up by the songs on the night we attended that they applauded the cast in rhythmic synchronicity to  the final reprise of “We Go Together.”

After emotionally charged shows such as Red, Faith Healer and Les Miserables, Grease was a fun way to spend the night laughing and singing along with the popular show tunes we all know so well.

“Riverside Theatre is thrilled with the way the community has embraced this season,” said Oscar Sales, Riverside Theatre’s Marketing Director. “Their support for productions on the Stark Stage and Waxlax Stage has been unmatched by any previous season.”

For tickets and available seating, call the box office at (772) 231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.