'Grease' opens Friday in Oak Harbor

Life too serious? The 21st century too complex? Take a break from it, by traveling to Oak Harbor and back to the 1950s and Rydell High School and relax with Whidbey Playhouse’s production of “Grease,” opening the in-person 2022-2023 season Friday, Sept. 9.

The large, generally teenage cast holds its own, singing and dancing through the 18 numbers, several which you know and will want to sing.

The story is simple, opening at the start of a school year, with boy, gang leader Danny Zuko (Chris King), bragging to his cohorts of his summer beach romance. Meanwhile, the girl transfer student, Sandra Dumbrowski (Karina Andrew) tell her new classmates about the dreamy guy she met on the beach. Sandra, as square as Danny is cool, is the worst of outsiders. When the two meet in the hall, Danny splits from her like she has cooties, leaving her hurt and confused.

Will they come together by play’s end? Can Danny maintain his cool while liking an establishment girl? Will Sandra morph into Sandy Dee, drinking wine from a bottle and smoking without choking? So the plot line is not complicated. Neither is the dancing or choreography, which is not a criticism, as it is crisp, lively, stylized and in synch throughout.

The opening scene brings on the T-Birds en masse stage right in black leather jackets and cuffed blue jeans, singing, dancing and snapping their fingers to “Grease is the Word.” In turn, the Pink Ladies, the girls come on stage left. Some basic teen issues get sung out: “We can be who we are.” / “Grease is the way we are.” / “Life is an illusion.” / “Confusion.” / “What are we doing here?” It is basic teen angst and makes visible the process of growing up.

The rest of the scenes in Act I introduce a host of characters: Kenicke (Cory Gregerson), a good singer and dancer. His sometimes girlfriend, Betty Rizzo (Sara Hampton), holds her own. Marty (Erin Tombaugh) gets to shine, and does. The story tends to pair actors up, boy girl, and gives many a spotlight number, often a duet. Rump, Roger’s (Andrew Huggins) nickname, sings why he earned it in “Mooning,” much to Jan’s (Jordon Spanovich) delight.

Frenchy (Marianne Campas) has stage presence even as she flunks out of high school and beautician school, singing “Beauty School Dropout.”

Patty Simcox (Elizabeth Rud), the school nerd, in glasses and with a ponytail, is a pretty good baton twirler as a cheerleader. She has the confidence to chase after Danny, too.

The guys rev up the stage with “Greased Lightnin’.”

By the end of Act I the lead members of the cast show themselves to be more street savvy than scholars, smoking and drinking and talking about making out.

Through pairing up and breaking up and Sandy being rejected, the plot makes it way to the closing scene, where Sandy finds herself and breaks out in a costume that has to be seen. The last scene is worth the price of admission. You might find yourself agreeing, if not singing “You’re the One that I Want.” Or maybe you will join in in “We Go Together.”

This high school musical of high schoolers requires a big crew. They amply direct and support the production. Allenda Jenkins and Eric George co-direct. They designed the set. Jenkins designed the costumes and was a choreographer, along with Micki Gibson, Claudia Samano Losada, Jan Wright and Daunne Zinger. Musical co-directors are Jamar Jenkins and Andrew Huggins. Grab a program to acknowledge the rest of the production team.

This is the 50h anniversary of the Broadway production. It was nominated for seven Tony awards. Book, music and lyrics were by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

“Grease” plays Sept. 9-Oct. 2, Thursdays-Sundays. For tickets and times: 360-679-2237, whidbeyplayhouse.com.