Grease Review

May 24th – 27th 2023

This is one of my favourite musicals, and Pontypridd Theatre Company’s adaptation of the classic American High School musical kicks off this year’s entertainment at Taff’s Well Village Hall.

After its stage premiere in 1971, Grease has entertained audiences across the globe and is one of the world’s most popular musicals. This production is based on the original stage musical version, rather than the John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 50s nostalgic movie.

After a brief summer romance, Sandy and Danny Zuko have a surprise reunion at Rydell High School. But in the world of teenage boy and girl cliques, is hot shot greaser, Danny too cool for ‘goody two shoes’ Sandy?

As I have come to expect from this relatively small theatre company, the cast is full with strong performers who bring the array of characters to life incredibly well. As the leading lady, Martha Morgan, is a delight as Sandy. Her stunning voice soars every time she opens her mouth and she gives a dynamic and endearing performance. Leader of the T Birds, Danny, is played excellently by Thomas Austin and is a mixture of cocky bravado and sometimes immature awkwardness, entirely convincing as a cool dude teenager confounded by his feelings. This is highlighted in the sorrowful number ‘Sandy’. Liam Paul Oram brings a dangerous edge to the testosterone-fuelled Kenickie, the rest of the T Birds, played brilliantly by Andrew Nancholas, Will Thomas and Kian Withey, help glue the gang together, with their predatory male behaviour, occasional flying fists and pelvic thrusts.

In amongst all the high powered stuff, Ro Roberts’ portrayal of Betty Rizzo is an absolute knock-out. Behind the bite of her razor sharp tongue, hip swaying sass and promiscuity, there is a real air of vulnerability, it’s almost impossible to take your eyes off her. Her enthralling heartfelt number “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” is a show stopper.

Tim Driscoll nails playing cheesy DJ Vince Fontaine, with his charm and smooth patter. The audience were in howls of laughter night after night, with his hilarious routine.

A smaller part this time round from chairperson, Leonitia Walters, as teacher Miss Lynch, who brought a smile to everyone’s face and let’s not forget the bashful Eugene, played by Elias Jones, prissy Patty Simcox, played by Olivia Jones and the rocking Johnny Casino, played by Stephen Christian Noonan!

Overall the whole cast played and delivered their parts to a high standard. The Pink Ladies, played by Hannah Daly, Abigail Tyler and Danielle Routledge, were both provocative and rebellious. The unsung heroes are always the chorus girls, in this case Taylor Walters and Emily Hughes, who both worked their socks off to give absolutely everything to the cause.

Probably the most touching part for me happened on the Friday evening show. A young lad was accompanied by his parents and he was a real fan of Grease. He came with his leather jacket, emblazed with the iconic T-Birds emblem. This youngster knew all the moves and couldn’t stop dancing. My colleague went back stage and arranged a photo-shoot with his heroes. What a finish to the night, absolutely amazing.

All in all then a huge success for the production team, a big round of applause to Liam Daly (Director) Tim Murray (Musical Director and Julie Hughes and Becki Manson (Choreographers). Let’s not forget the hard working stage crew, who seamlessly set the scenes to create the magic of theatre!

I would recommend this show to anyone, it is unfair to compare stage productions to films, they are like chalk and cheese. But this show was professionally put together and well worth the visit. Two nights were completely sold out and the other two shows were very close to that. All in all terrific entertainment at a local venue.

Mike Phillips (Chair)

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the all the festive fun. When it’s cold outside, communities come and gather inside to watch much-loved fairy tales and folk stories re-imagined with modern twists, pop songs aplenty and the grand tradition of the Panto Dame. This year, Pontypridd Theatre Company brought everyone’s favourite fairytale story, Cinderella to delighted audiences in the ‘Taff’s Well Village Hall’.

 

The Village Hall is a wonderful, family friendly venue, situated in the centre of the village. Those that attended the four day event enjoyed a tale laced with laughter and love; plus the ugliest sisters you’ll ever be likely to meet.

Ticking all the boxes for being the best in Pantos, this is a Cinderella performance like no other! Taking the audience on a delightful journey of escapism and fun, we join determined but downtrodden Cinderella, (Caitlin Woodland) and her loyal best friend Buttons, (Kian Withey) in the magical Land of make believe. The likeable but hapless Prince Charming has come back home and is in search of a wife, with the evil villain Dandina devilishly hoping to be the chosen one and the next Queen!

Directed by Liam Daly, Cinderella is a show which shines from beginning to end. The wonderful cast deliver on all fronts from start to finish and it really stands out that they work so hard as one big team, with plenty of chances for everyone to show off their many admirable talents.

Buttons bemoans that he has only one friend in the world, Prince Charming frets over his future. And at Hardup Hall, Chardonnay and Portia are making Cinderella’s life a misery. Liam Daly and Andrew Nancholas are the best ugly sisters you’ll ever have the misfortune to encounter, and worth every boo and hiss that the audience has to give them. Poor old ‘Ella! All she knows is domestic drudgery, day in, day out…but this day is different, this day is special and when this day is done, nothing will ever be the same again.

The cast was absolutely brilliant and what great voices! I didn’t expect to hear a Queen classic. It is very well scripted, the stage set was fine for a small production and the children (St Michael’s Primary and Fynnon Taf Primary) really enjoyed themselves and they loved the fact that the all the cast worked incredibly hard to involve the audience in true Panto style.

 

A special mention has to go to Caitlin Woodland as Cinderella, Ieuan Mathews as Prince Charming, Taylor Deen Jenkins as Dandini, Stephen Christian-Noonan as Baron Hard-up and of course Kian Whithey, who had the audience eating out of his hand. They all take to their roles with such fun, skill and professionalism, with Caitlin in particular having the most amazing singing voice, Ieuan showing an incredible comedy touch to the daft as a brush Prince, and Stephen superbly naive to the happenings around him. No Pontypridd Theatre Company production would be complete without the presence of Leonitia Walters. She was back at her best as Lady Hardup,  this production needed her dash of valley humour, it was mayhem at it’s best.

 

The bad weather didn’t seem to deter people from having some fun family time, as the hall was almost sold out over the four day period.  I sat at the rear of the hall and watched each performance in turn. The last show was a Sunday matinee and, as always with live performances they get better day after day. This once again proved to be the case and the last performance was a joy to behold. And I for one can’t wait for next year’s production.