GREASE - Canberra Philharmonic Society - Erindale Theatre

 

 Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

Directed by Bradley Mcdowell – Choreographed by Jordan Kelly

Musical Direction by Ella Ragless – Conducted by Craig Johnson

Set Design by Bradley McDowell – Costumes designed by Ange Fewtral

Lighting Design by Alex Clifford – Sound Design by James McPherson

The Canberra Philharmonic Society – Erindale Theatre – Aug 27^th – Sept 12, 2026.

Opening night performance August 27^th reviewed by BILL STEPHENS

 

Ashleigh Maynard (Sandy) -Georgia Motto (Rizzo) - Emma English (Frenchy) - Kay Liddiard (Jan) 
Erin Hawker (Marty)

The first, and certainly the most popular, in what has become a genre of teenage musicals, Grease has received several Canberra productions over the years.

With music, lyrics and book by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, and set in Chicago in the fictional Rydell High School in 1959, the musical follows a group of students navigating the complexities of sexual exploration, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, and gang violence.

Major reasons for the continuing popularity of Grease are its catchy rock-infused score, and, of course, the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John which plays on high-rotation on streaming channels.

However, for this newest iteration by the Canberra Philharmonic Society the show has been reimagined by director, Bradley McDowell, as a high-energy dance extravaganza, thereby avoiding some of the darker aspects of the script.

The company performing one of Jordan Kelly's high-enegy routines.

Choreographer, Jordan Kelly, has created no fewer than twelve eye-popping full-stage dance numbers, performed with engaging enthusiasm by the entire cast. Kelly is a dab-hand at filling the stage with inventive moves, and his choreography cleverly showcases particular skills of various cast members to spectacular effect.   

A pity therefore that Alex Clifford’s otherwise dazzling lighting design occasionally compromised the routines by having the dancers working in darkness while picking out principal characters with spotlights.  

Subtlety is not a feature of the acting, and McDowell has obviously encouraged his cast to aim for fun rather than depth with their characterisations. Among the large, enthusiastic cast, Ashleigh Maynard sings her songs prettily and is appropriately winsome as Sandy, the girl willing to compromise her standards to get her man.

Ashleigh Maynard (Sandy) and admirers.

Samuel Whiter is engagingly gauche as Danny, the object of Sandy’s affections, and the leader of a dorky gang which includes Joseph Mansell as Kenickie, Hamish Chapman as Sonny, Sterling Notley as Roger and Toby Breach as Doody who offers an hilarious interpretation of his song, “Those Magic Changes”. 

Toby Breach (Doody) with Joseph Mansell (Kenickie) and Hamish Chapman (Sonny)
performing "Those Magic Changes"

 Their compliant girlfriends are played by Georgia Motto as Rizzo, Erin Hawker as Marty, Kay Liddiard as Jan and Emma English as Frenchy.

Among the feature roles, Meaghan Stewart chews up the scenery as Miss Lynch, Dave Collins provides a show-stopping performance as Teen Angel, with some amusingly eccentric characterisations offered by Chloe Archer as the go-getter, Patty, Declan Pigram as club owner, Johnny Casino, Michael Cooper as Vince Fontaine, Stephanie Waldron as Cha-Cha and Edward Murphy as Eugene.

Stephanie Waldron (Cha-Cha) and Samuel Whiter (Danny) winning the dance competition

Craig Johnson conducts the tight seven-piece band led by Ella Ragless on piano, Fergus Mashman and Kirsten Nilsson on saxophones, Ryan Yu on Bass, Thomas Breust, and Zoey Haar on Guitars and Tyler Forbes on Drums. 

McDowell's uncluttered set leaves plenty of room for the spectacular dance numbers, and for Clifford to demonstrate spectacular lighting effects, while Ange Fewtrell’s colourful fifties inspired costumes, with their swirling skirts for the ladies, are perfect for Kelly’s energetic dance routines.

All of which combine in this spectacular production to provide the perfect excuse to revisit this much-loved musical.

                                                             Images by PHOTOX

This is a slightly edited version of the review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on August 28th, 2026. Link here