Download `Grease` accelerates, then stalls at Totem Pole Playhouse

‘Grease’ accelerates, then stalls at Totem Pole Playhouse Benjamin Dennis ­ July 31, 2015 The Shippensburg News­Chronicle A timeless classic such as ‘Grease’ deserves the utmost respect and outward appreciation by theatre folk and music lovers alike, the musical escapade has contributed to the world of film and song in legendary fashion. Packed to the walls, audience members took their seats at Totem Pole Playhouse last Friday evening as an electric sense of anxiousness was emitted from the house rows. Patrons murmured pre show conversations of excitement, waiting for the show to begin, yet amidst the live showcasing of memorable hit songs such as, “Greased Lightning”, “Beauty School Dropout” and the lyrically zany, “You’re The One That I Want”, the cast of 20 produced an overall performance piece lacking collective synergy. Despite recurring downfalls within individual technique, Totem Pole’s envisioning of the widely loved greaser drama showed a number of key elemental theatrical successes, aiding in the memory of various positive junctures. A lack of clean conversational dialogue spawned non­believable interactions between the acting majority. However, a few notable exceptions included the absurdly funny duo of “Roger” and “Jan”, played by Trey Harrington and Taylor Whidden. Through brashly scripted communication, the couple finds genuine connectivity on the stage, distinctly seen in their pre intermission duet, “Mooning”, a crooning pop tune about impetuous vulgar behavior, the two have turned it into a loveable chorale. On numerous occasions that progressively turned into choppy line sequences, Harrington and Whidden ‘saved’ fellow cast members from establishing potentially mundane arrays of speech by their quick witted comedic timing, propelling scene arrangements back on track following previous uninteresting exchanges. The launch of act two sensed that ‘Grease’ needed a savior or a new game plan. One goose bump solo, a dance extravaganza or a poignantly perfected monologue would do the trick, considering the previously average act one showed monochromatic colors of performance, rather than the excelling vast array of vibrancy that Totem Pole is known for. At last, a saving grace appears during the show’s height of emotional context between characters. Taking on the scandalously independent role of “Rizzo” is Hannah Zazzaro, a gifted vocalist who finds no difficulty soaring into spine tingling, resonant upper belts in “There Are Worse Things I Could Do”, a song that ultimately conveys the tender and vulnerable identity of the promiscuous Pink Lady. A refreshing moment of superiority, Zazzaro provides audiences with the most memorable solo vocal of the occasion, superior to her acting counterparts that emit cabaret style covers of ‘Grease’ compositions, mere tribute musical excerpts that fall short of expectations. The pieces are all accounted for, but the puzzle has yet to be solved. The Playhouse has managed to put forth a musical experience that entertains theatre patrons by the collaboration of memorable melodies, choreographed movements and youthful­by­experience performers into one pot of ‘changity chang shoo bop’, rather than applying a dramatic new envisioning of the Broadway standard to Caledonia’s beloved theatre. Nonetheless, those purchasing tickets to see Totem Pole’s final regular season showcase should not stray from the theatre by virtue of an average performance. “I loved the music! It brings back memories of the tunes during the era”, stated Vanessa Krietz of Emmitsburg, MD. Hannah Hughes, Playhouse Equity Membership Candidate, enthusiastically discloses individual testimony to the hard work she has witnessed backstage, “...there are a lot of moving parts to this show, most of them happening simultaneously. The cast has shown characteristics of coordination that compliment each other in the best ways possible, on stage and off.” ‘Grease’ currently runs at Totem Pole Playhouse until August 16. ​
‘Lovesick Blues’ serenades theatregoers August 18 ­ 23 as the 2015 ‘bonus show’, the music of Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline. For tickets and further information, contact the box office at 1­888­805­7056, or visit: ​
www.totempoleplayhouse.org