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Tuesday, April 21 marked the opening night in Portland of The Fred Meyer Broadway Across America presentation of Grease.
The production isn’t great; but neither is it awful. Tonight’s numbers were not marred by horrid sound glitches, a common feature of opening nights at Keller Auditorium. The cast is talented and energetic, though many semed a bit long in the tooth to be playing Rydell High School students. There was more than one scene where students could easily have been mistaken for teachers. But, it’s theater, let your imagination take over the evening.
Eric Schneider, cast in the lead role of Danny Zuko did not bring to the stage the physical presence needed to flesh out the tough guy role. Playing a lead role in Grease would be a dauting task as movie fans now have 20 plus years of viewing history, with John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Stockard Channing embedded in our collective memories. There is only one Danny Zuko. There is only one Rizzo.
And what about Taylor Hicks, you ask? Hicks fans need to manage their expectations. He is not the star of the show. His one musical number appears in the second act; but here’s the good news, he’s well worth the wait. The trimmed down, quite handsome winner of season five of American Idol does a campy and ever-so-slightly gay number that brings a needed boost to the production. And, if you’re a Hicks fan, don’t be the first one out the door, there is a bonus musical number at the end of the staged performance.
And if you’re seriously a fan, Hicks will be in the lobby signing copies of his CD at the end of the evening.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Sherry Hollis // Apr 22, 2009 at 7:03 am
”Gay number”??
2 Tina // Apr 22, 2009 at 8:34 am
I love how the ads for this show talk so much about it ’starring Taylor Hicks’ when all he has is a bit part in the show! If I were a Hicks fan (I’m not) and had bought tickets to this show (I didn’t!) I’d be pretty ticked off about now!
3 Jackie Watkins // Apr 22, 2009 at 11:04 am
Saw it in SF Golden Gate theater, and Hicks was GREAT. He is truly a gifted entertainer and is the reason to see Grease. I’d love to see him develop into some acting roles in film, so we could get close-ups of that beautiful face!
Jackie
4 Jackie Watkins // Apr 22, 2009 at 11:06 am
Saw it in SF golden gate theater and Hicks was GREAT! He is truly a talented entertainer and I hope to see him develop as a film actor so we can get close-ups of his beautiful face. Have been listening to his new album “the Distance” and it is genuinely wonderful, very mellow country- R & B — his soulful expression, makes you feel good.
Jackie
5 Evelyn // Apr 22, 2009 at 2:34 pm
You’ve Got That Right, Jackie! For those who haven’t seen or met Taylor; you’re missing out! Taylor is the ‘Magnet’ for Grease. Check the facts; then speak♥
6 Kentucky Fan // Apr 22, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I am a Hicks fan. Faithful and proud of such a fine singer, song writer, musician and performer!
7 Kentucky Fan // Apr 23, 2009 at 3:13 am
Taylor returns to AI on April 28th! Woooooo!
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