Review: Grease, Apollo Oxford, until Nov 18

Grease is a slick show. The musical, playing at the Apollo Theatre until November 18, invades Oxford yet again. This time the familiar show is packed with delightful surprises, writes Julie Wood.

GREASE IS THE WORD: Irene Warren and Steven Houghton

Songs such as Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin', Grease is the Word and Hopelessly Devoted had the audience clapping along from the word go.

Set in 1950s America, Grease is as American as the hand jive. The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds provide a backdrop to Danny and Sandy's attempts to find their way through that hormonal jungle called high school.

Danny, played by Steven Houghton from TV's London's Burning, delivers a solid performance, but he's no John Travolta. Mr Houghton provides just what the audience wants as many pelvic thrusts and hip rolls as possible. He's easy on the eyes but not so hot on the accent, and loses his drawl halfway through.

His counterpart, the square Sandy played by Irene Warren, looks like an angel and has a voice to match.

The cast has added little touches to the show to keep it fresh, such as the hilarious scene when Danny's hand has a mind of its own at a drive-in movie with Sandy.

Opening night sound problems did plague the show. In the first number, Danny was inaudible and during a couple of songs the volume was so loud it was uncomfortable.

The choreography by Arlene Phillips creatively culls moves from the movie while reinventing the numbers for the stage.

For a little high-paced fun, Grease is the word.