Grease immersive movie musical review: Aspirational, but still a disaster | Theatre | Entertainment

Initially released in 1978, Grease has managed to cement its place in musical history and is still adored today. As well as birthing a sequel, the film was adapted into a live performance in 2016, starring Broadway superstar Aaron Tveit, High School Musical’s Vanessa Hudgens and Call Me Maybe songstress Carly Rae Jepsen.

Its latest iteration is Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical, back in London’s Battersea Park for a limited run this summer. On the surface, the concept is ambitious and original – guests enter a recreation of Rydell High, complete with a working carnival outside ready for the We Go Together finale. The film is played on several screens throughout the venue, while live actors play out the same action in real time.

The set at Evolution London is impressive. I immediately felt immersed in the all-American high school experience, from the huge gym setup to the Instagram-worthy Rydell High sign at the entrance. Themed food and drink are available for purchase, along with merchandise celebrating the event. Best of all, it doesn’t feel like a set – it feels more like a high-budget theme park.

Outside, you’ll also find a few carnival games and rides dotted about – a ferris wheel, a chair swing and the iconic funhouse. These require ride tokens to access, which are available for purchase at the venue. There are photo ops aplenty, from the famous Shake Shack to the Rydell school desk. Sponsors Benefit have set up a ‘beauty school’ quiz where you can land free make-up samples, while O2 Priority members have the chance to win tote bags out in the courtyard.

Sadly, it’s when the show really starts where things start to go wrong. You’ll begin on the big screen outside, before filtering through to the main gym, which is set up in an in-the-round theatre. You’ll recognise the sets in here, too – guests with seated tickets are stationed at Frosty Palace Diner or in replica cars at the drive-in movie theatre, but you’ll also spot Kernicke’s garage and Frenchie’s beauty school.

The gym sits in the centre, and serves as, ostensibly, the main stage. But herein lies the problem: I simply didn’t know where to look.

The action takes place all around the room. For anyone with standing tickets, it might be slightly less of a problem, but as we’re seated in the more expensive diner area it means it’s quite difficult to predict where the actors are going to pop up next – and difficult to see them when they’re the entire way across the room, with their backs to you.

Sure, you can get up and explore the space. I’d even encourage that. But why splash out anywhere from £39 to £54 on a seated ticket when you can score a standing one from £34?

The next problem, aside from not knowing where the action was, was the audio. The experience jolts between movie and live audio, though with the amount of general noise going on in the room it’s essentially impossible to make out any of the dialogue. Unless you know Grease by heart, you’re going to struggle following it, especially as certain scenes are condensed and cropped. Sometimes you’ll hear John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s original recording, and sometimes you’ll hear the live cast (Stephanie Costi as Sandy and Giórgios Michaelides as Danny). And when it’s live, the American accents just… aren’t great.

The singing is mostly passable, if a little pitchy in parts. Sandy’s Hopelessly Devoted To You solo is a standout, and sent chills down my spine. The Grease Lightnin’ choreography and setwork is impressive, but numbers like Summer Lovin’ were difficult to hear from where I was sitting.

There are moments for the audience to get involved. Those sitting on the bleachers are led in a cheerleading class, while others are taken on stage to join in the dance competition. There’s choir practice, a sleepover scene where viewers clutching bean bags clamber up on stage to join the Pink Ladies for Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee.

Sadly, my own chance to interact is actually just an instruction to vacate my seat so an actress can sit down. I’m relegated to a seat a bit further back while the rest of the table remain where they are, and so I miss the chance to see Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson as Teen Angel up close in the flesh as he approaches the table to sing to Frenchie.

In the end, I think Grease the Immersive Movie Musical really is what you make it. If you’re willing to get involved, interact with the characters and elbow your way through the crowds to be chosen for the fun scenes, you’ll probably have a better time. Just make sure you’re not sitting at table one at Frosty’s Palace.

Oh, and be warned – I attended the show on one of the hottest days of the year, and there was no air conditioning. Bring a fan or be prepared for a very sticky time of it.

Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical is at Evolution London until September 13th.