Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • June 11, 2014 Playhouse’s production of ‘Grease’ is packed with talent by Dennis Seuling Certain shows automatically put a smile on people’s faces. “Grease,” the final production of the season at Mill- burn’s Paper Mill Playhouse, is one of them. The show is a send-up of teenag- ers and their lives in the Eisenhower era — before the Internet, cell phones, iPads, and computer dating. The show is episodic and features vignettes from the lives of bad-boy Danny Zuko (Bobby Conte Thornton), good-girl Sandy Dumbrowski (Taylor Louderman), racy girls Frenchy (Dana Steingold) and Betty Rizzo (Morgan Weed), and Danny’s friend Kenickie (Shane Donovan). The show opens with a film sequence show- ing Danny and Sandy on the beach enjoy- ing sun, surf, and each other’s company as young romance blooms. The film gives way to the opening title song, performed enthusiastically by the entire company. On the first day of school at Rydell High, Danny is surprised to see that Sandy has transferred in from a neigh- boring parochial school. To maintain Shane Donovan (Kenicke), Morgan Weed (Rizzo), Taylor Louderman (Sandy), and Bobby Conte Thornton (Danny Zuko) in ‘Grease.’ his macho image, he feigns disinterest, which confuses and hurts Sandy. The show follows the couple’s ups and downs and the romantic exploits of several secondary characters. Practically everything associated with the 1950s is addressed either in full scenes or in references. There is the strait-laced but ditsy school teacher (Donna English), hot rods, drive-in movies, pajama parties, a burger joint, a rumble (sort of), a Dick Clark-inspired TV dance-show host (Joey Sorge), and lots of swagger. Directed by Daniel Goldstein, the production moves along briskly and incorporates songs from the film. In addition to “Grease,” there are “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and the rousing “You’re the One That I Want.” The energy level is at full throttle and there is nothing to slow the pace. The staging is seamless as settings change, allowing for one great tune after another to be performed. The choreography by Joann M. Hunter is spirited and includes the principal actors who, for a wel- come change, don’t need to be relegated to a few token moves before exiting while the real dancers take over. Louderman is a great Sandy. With her shoulders drawn in and her head slightly bowed, she conveys a tentative nervousness and projects Sandy’s innocence. She has a lovely voice and does justice to her second act solo, “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” Since her char- acter is written so broadly, it is up to the actress to make Sandy a person rather than a mere stereotype, and she accomplishes this nicely. The audience at the opening night performance responded enthusiastically to Loud- erman. Thornton has an outstanding voice and a decent swag- ger, and he holds his own in the dance numbers. He lets the audience see that beneath the swagger is a vulner- ability and gentleness that Danny is afraid to show in front of the guys. Sandy breaks down that macho wall and Thornton allows the audience to see a young man in love — putty in Sandy’s hands. A highlight of Act II is “Beauty School Dropout,” performed by Teen Angel (Telly Leung), the singing conscience of Frenchy. Looking elegant in a sparking silver tux, he offers Frenchy advice while descending a long staircase. The number is a showstopper and Leung belts (continued on out the song impeccably with a voice that angels could only aspire to. Staged with a chorus of beauty parlor customers in curlers, with hairdryers attached to their costumes, this sequence owes as much to the Ziegfeld Follies and Busby Berkeley’s movie musi- cal extravaganzas of the 1930s and as it does to young ‘50s crooners and teen angst. Robin De Jesus, who plays Danny’s friend Doody, is used mostly in group numbers, but has a rousing solo with “These Magic Changes,” in which his personality and talent light up the stage. It is a shame his character is not given more to do. He is a standout in a very talented cast. Paper Mill has a reputation of mounting Broadway- caliber musical revivals, and “Grease” is one of the most cheerful shows done there in recent years. It is definitely worth a look. Even those who have seen the show and the movie before will enjoy seeing such an amazing assem- blage of talent on stage. “Grease” will run through June 29. Performances are Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 1:30 and 7 p.m., Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1:30 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $27 to $98 and may be purchased by calling (973) 376-4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse box office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org.