Note: this is a PREVIEW. This was what I thought the new cast might be like but I didn't actually know what I was talking about. I think it's still okay to write pewviews though sometimes but unless you're my friend Hairy McMungo who's psychic a preview can only be a guess.
Grease has got a new cast. I’m really annoyed. Why did they all have to leave before I’d seen all the understudies? I’ve still got a chance of seeing Bennett Andrews as Danny, Luke Jackson as Eugene and Charlotte Bull in whichever roles she’s covering this time (she’s done at least four) but all the others have pissed off somewhere else. I did manage to see Callun Nicol as Vince/Teen Angel the last time I went (he was really sexy).
The new Danny and Sandy were probably chosen because one of them is a good ice-skater and the other one is shagging a good ice-skater. Okay it’s not quite as bad as that because they have been in the show before as Doody and Marty. Ray Quinn is Danny and he can definitely act, sing and dance his socks off (and the rest of his clothes if he wants). It’s hard to know if Emma Stephens will be a good Sandy or not. Marty is probably the least distinctive character in the opera (for me) and she only has about one line to sing on her own so it’s hard to know how good a singer is – although she has performed leading roles in other musicals. But Emma is beautiful and an amazing dancer and she and Ray should have lots of chemistry.
But what happens if Ray and Emma break up? They’re contracted to snog each other eight times a week for the next five months. That’s a bigger commitment than marriage. And of course, they’re going on holiday at the same time. I’ll definitely come and see Grease when they’re on holiday because there’s going to be understudies everywhere and it’s going to go a long way towards making sure I can see as many understudies as possible. But I can imagine a lot of people thinking about going to see Grease, then seeing both the leads are off and deciding not to bother. Most people don’t realise the understudies are usually at least as good as the main performers. Being an understudy is a skill in its own right. It’s a bit like being a substitute in a football match. You could be called upon at any time.
I am a little bit disappointed though. No offence to Emma Stephens or Nicola Brazil the old Sandy but I’d have loved Emily Bull, formerly the first Sandy cover, to take over the leading role. Emily is my favourite Sandy ever and I wish I’d been able to see her in the role more than twice. Much as I love Grease, Sandy does get on my nerves really easily but Emily does it in just the right way not to annoy me and I really fancy her. I also really wanted to see Lucie Downer as Sandy but she’s left too. Both she and Emily are adorable Frenchys and I love the way they’re completely different characters.
Loads of people have gone. I’m sure I’ll love all the new people when I actually see them but I still think it’s really tragic so many people have left. I haven’t seen Emma Green (Patty and first Marty cover) for months because she wasn’t there last time and even though I really enjoyed Danielle Crockford’s performance (she is an understudy after all) she’s gone too. And Chloe Brooks, it amazed me that she could be such an adorable Jan yet such a terrifying Miss Lynch. I really wanted to see her as Jan again so I could make sure they really were the same person. Danny Bayne, Nicola Brazil, Kristofer Harding, Karen Aspinall, Lucy Boldero, Selina Hamilton, Tyman Boatwright, Philip Comley, Adam Maskell and Russell Smith, I’m going to miss you too.
A few people are staying though and I’m really happy one of them is Benjamin Ibbott (Doody) because the last time he was there he sang like a whole verse of Those Magic Changes to me and then he WINKED at me and I’m so going to sit in the same seat next time I go. No I’m not telling you which seat or you’ll all want to sit there. And Stuart Ramsay is covering Danny so I hope I’ll get to see him burp again and seriously the cigarettes down his trousers, does he have an extra gigantic cigarette box or what? Natalie Langston, Laura Wilson, Jason Capewell, Jamie Tyler and Kristina MacMillan, I’m glad you’re staying too.
And as for the rest of you new people, well I’m so excited! I love seeing new people in the roles, that’s what being an understudy fan is all about, seeing different people play the characters in different ways and that’s what cast changes are all about too. So when I do go (be it tonight or tomorrow night or next week or next month), I’m going to see at least SEVEN NEW VERSIONS of all the characters, not to mention some new chorus people who could be doing anything. I love watching the chorus because they’ve got characters too and even their own little storylines.
Michael Melmoe (Roger), Faye Brooks (Frenchy), Robyn Mellor (Marty), Lizzi Franklin (Patty), Marie Daly (Miss Lynch), Craig Daniel Adams, James Marshall, Damien Poole, Ryan Quish, Charles Ruhmund, Niamh Bracken, Holly Fletcher, Alison Hefferon, Rebecca Hodge and Sophie Zucchini (all chorus), I can’t wait to see you.
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