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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">CVLT’s ‘Grease’ is
the one that you want<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I>7/31/09</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">We go together like
rama lama lama, ka-dinga da-dinga dong.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Remembered forever
like shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de-boom.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">No, those lyrics are
not by Sondheim.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And they do not
accompany dialogue by Shakespeare spoken by characters conceived by <SPAN
style="COLOR: black">Edward Albee reflecting the </SPAN>socio-political <SPAN
style="COLOR: black">consciousness of </SPAN>Dostoevsky.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">They are from <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Grease</I>, a dirigible of a musical comedy
by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey with little poetry, no complexity and nary a
shred of <SPAN style="COLOR: black">social
</SPAN>commentary.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What it has in
excess, however, is youthful exuberance, playfulness, and romanticized nostalgia
aimed at spoofing life in high school in the late-1950s.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This was a time when childhood
wasn’t truncated and teens acted like adolescents.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Expecting more than a
good time from a show with these lyrics set in this timeframe is an exercise in
futility.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Grease</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> began in Chicago in
1971 and, like the Broadway production that opened the following year, offered a
low-frills staging filled with highly energetic and talented young
unknowns.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Vintage teen spirit
sustained this show for over seven years on the New York
stage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Unfortunately, every
subsequent professional incarnation—a sanitized 1978 film, a celebrity-infused
1994 Broadway revival, and a 2007 pageant-like stage production where the
winners of a reality TV program were cast as the leads—has become glitzier and
less mindful of its intended pre-Vietnam and pre-Watergate naiveté.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Over the years, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Grease</I> lost its innocence and, in turn,
lost some of its heart.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The production
currently on stage at the Chagrin Valley Little Theater captures the energy and
innocence of the original and, despite some shortcomings, has plenty of heart.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Director-choreographer
Pamela LaForce has put together a very playful, vibrant show.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She has found a core of talented
community players with voices built for 1950’s do-wop and the skills required to
execute her very entertaining, era-accurate dance steps.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">LaForce is more
choreographer than director, for greater attention appears to have been paid to
the coordination of the big production numbers than to the staging of the action
between them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While the musical
numbers explode with LaForce’s life force, much of the exposition lacks activity
and refinement.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This exposes some
rather amateur acting performances, which calls attention to the fact that few
in this cast are actually teenagers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Interestingly,
it is in these musical numbers that individual acting choices by featured
performers become clear and crystallized.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The talented
Steve Tiderman, as the head greaser Danny, reveals angst and becomes less of a
caricature in his solo “Alone at a Drive-In Movie.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Greta Rothman, as the tough-talking
Rizzo, exposes her character’s soft underbelly in a magnificent “There are Worse
Things I Could Do.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Katelyn Vogias,
as the innocent new-comer Sandy, does not come across as such until “It’s
Raining on Prom Night.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is a
lovely duet performed with Atlie Gilbert, whose Frenchie would be absolutely
adorable if she shed the unnecessary character-voice.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Standout
supporting players who appear to be particularly comfortable in their
character’s sneakers include Jon Gellott as Kenickie, Brandon Hood as Roger,
Scott Zolkowski as Doody, and Alex LaForce-Marzullo as Marty.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Hood’s “Mooning” number is a
show-stopper.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Much of this
production’s teen spirit is generated by the four young women who anchor the
ensemble.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sarah Gajewski (who also
does a marvelous job as Cha Cha), Kelly Aker, Brie Arko and Kourtney Jones are
wonderful, as is the four-piece band under the direction of David
Markle.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Edmond Wolff’s set
pieces and lighting design facilitate the storytelling but, frankly, lack
musical comedy sensibilities.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
show romanticizes the 1950s, yet not enough creative initiative is taken to
complement this mindset with production values.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The title song from
the film suggests that “Grease is the word.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>According to the finale of the CVLT’s
more playful stage production, the word is: “Chang chang changity chang shoo
bop.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That's the way it should
be.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Wah-ooo.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yeah.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">“Grease<SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">” continues
through August 22</SPAN></SPAN></I><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> at the Chagrin
Valley Little Theatre, 56 River Street, Chagrin Falls.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which range from $12 to
$16, call 440-247-8955 or visit<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A
href=""><FONT color=#0000ff>www.cvlt.org</FONT></A>.<SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></I></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>