Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical review – party like it’s 1959

Evolution London A strong cast sings live versions of all the hits against screens showing the film, backed by a terrific band and willing extras recruited from the audienceThere’s no secret about what’s happening in Battersea Park: the signs are quite literally there at the entrance, welcoming you to Rydell High School. You can even spot the real-life ferris wheel that hints at the fairground finale to come. Grease isn’t the first musical to be given Secret Cinema’s signature immersive treatment – there was a Moulin Rouge in 2017 – but it is the most ambitious, with a live cast performing all of its memorable numbers in what is essentially a hybrid show.The original movie plays on overhead screens, with occasional footage intercut from a black-and-white stage feed, and a (fabulous) band provides the live soundtrack. It takes a chaotic quarter-hour to get your head around what you’re watching. The actors aren’t lip-syncing their lines, so if you’re following the screen it looks like clunky dubbing. The dialogue regularly gets lost behind the music: perhaps the sound mix will get better over the course of the run. Perhaps it’s not important – this is, ultimately, a full-costume karaoke night, the chance for folk to belt out Hopelessly Devoted to You and Greased Lightnin’ without any fear of being removed by an usher.At Evolution London, Battersea Park, until 7 September Continue reading...

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