By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
September 26, 1999
Perhaps the best way to present “Grease” from now on is on ice.
Ever since Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta starred in the 1978 film version of the play, most productions of the musical have been overshadowed by memories of the movie. But when you’ve got skaters performing double loops and death spirals, you tend to forget about the film and lose yourself in the fun.
Friday night – in the first of three consecutive evenings at the Allstate Arena – Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan skated the role of Sandy, the sweet girl who enjoys an innocent summer romance with greaser Danny (Scott Davis).
You know the story: Boy meets girl, boy pretends he doesn’t like girl, girl gets fed up, then girl tarts herself up to win boy back. Never mind the outdated implications that a girl has to physically change to get the local hottie. That was probably lost on the little ones.
The fact that the play was put on ice is in itself a little weird. Marketed for an audience weaned on Disney productions, “Grease On Ice” has toned down some of the play’s sexual content. For instance, when head Pink Lady Rizzo worries that she’s pregnant, it’s just alluded to as “trouble.”
But there are still enough double-entendres, references to body parts and physical humor to make some parents uncomfortable.
Best known for winning a silver medal at the Olympics (and getting clubbed in the knee), Kerrigan has a reputation for being an ice princess on and off the ice. But as Sandy, Kerrigan was in her element. Her bright, wide smile was innocent and coquettish. And if her jumps aren’t up to the competitive level of fellow Olympians-turned-pros such as Kristi Yamaguchi or Midori Ito, her spins and lines were clean and precise.
And she’s a darned good singer, too!
Well, not really. Anyone who heard her sing at the Cubs’ seventh-inning stretch knows that. But she, like the rest of the crew, can lip sync with the best of them.
As Danny, Davis had the belligerent, punk look down pat. But more inventive casting would’ve placed Forrest McKinnon in the male lead. Tall, slender and boyishly handsome – even when dressed like a dork to play class nerd Eugene – McKinnon got to strut his stuff near the end of the show when his character loses his glasses and his inhibitions. Later, the former speed skater easily hurdled over cars and jumped over a long row of cast mates.
Gig Siruno also stood out in his incarnations as the flamboyant Teen Angel and the flashy Johnny Casino. Descending slowly on a bungee-like cord from the ceiling, he showed off lightning-quick footwork and some of the evening’s tightest spins.
With his ice musical debut, scenic designer James Fouchard created a simple world in which malt shops and drive-ins were de rigueur dating rituals. As vivid as the poodle skirts and perky ponytails, his settings were a perfect backdrop.
My suggestion to this, and all future incarnations of “Grease,” is thus: Include some songs (such as “You’re the One that I Want”) from the movie. I know, it’s not true to the play. But it’s an improvement.
