Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) Drama delivered four performances of ‘Grease: School Version’ (Jacobs and Casey, 1972), directed by Dr. Mary Miller, April 27-30 in the school auditorium to near sell out crowds each show.

Grease: School Version is an electrifying period piece that pays homage to the classic, but with lewd behavior, profanity and Rizzo’s pregnancy scare removed. Songs have been made age-appropriate and family friendly. The musical is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. and Concord Theatricals Company.

Rydell High class of ’59 seniors, duck-tailed, hot-rodding greasers and hip-shaking, pedal-pushing “Pink Ladies” sing and dance their way through coming-of-age themes. Costumes loaned from Carousel Music Theater including leather jackets and swing skirts evoke the look of the era.

Greaser Grace Campbell as Danny Zuko and Rachel Barter/Sage Wickline as newcomer Sandy Dumbrowski rekindle a summer romance, wrestle with peer pressure, and find their true selves as anchors in their social circles. The onstage chemistry between seniors Campbell and Barter, in their final BRHS performance was witty, playful, authentic and, during the curtain call, emotional.

Imij Armstead (Jan) and Sarah Harris (Rizzo) share choreography credit for the production as well as acting their “Pink Ladies” roles. Armstead is a standout dancer, energetic and graceful. Harris’ stage presence and power vocals during solo “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee” were first class.

Greasers Skyla Carrier (Kenickie), Rose Campbell (Sonny) and Jayden Coulombe (Sonny) delivered excellent performances. Matthew Little (Doody) and Matthias Fanslau (Roger “Rump”) embody all that is fun with musical performances. Given the nickname “Rump” for baring his backside, Fanslau and Armstead sing a humorous duet “Mooning,” which garnered several laughs. In the second act, Fanslau sang another duet with fellow greaser Little, “Rock n’ Roll Party Queen.” Little’s frisky stage antics and liveliness will be worth watching in the coming years.

Head Cheerleader and do-gooder Patty Simcox, played by Suzie Edwards, keeps score of Danny’s indiscretions in “Rydell Fight Song” which drives Danny and Sandy apart. Barter, Wickline, Blythe Miller and Polly Miller star as the cheerleading squad.

Cass Amaral, playing Eugene, is everyone’s favorite lab partner, study buddy and last-minute date. Miss Lynch, once played by Sally Struthers, is brought to life by Sophia Mansfield.

Kai Pitcher (Frenchy), Hannah Hills (Marty) and Deanna Main (Pink Lady) round out the cast of the “Pink Ladies.” Spencer Pottle (Teen Angel) and cast achieve perfection in “Beauty School Drop Out,” a song that encourages Frenchy to go back to high school after a catastrophic beauty school fail.

Coach Dennis Dacus’ booming voice and charisma come together karmically as popular radio DJ Vince Fontaine, who is hosting a dance contest at Rydell High. Partner swaps abound and Kenickie’s blind date Cha-Cha DiGregorio, played by Maddie Andreasen, connects with Danny to win the contest. Song “Born to Hand Jive” sends the cast through the rows of the auditorium, dancing and hand jiving. It is sung by Pottle in his second role as Johnny Casino.

Meanwhile, Sandy gets a makeover with Frenchy’s help. When she meets up with the greasers and “Pink Ladies” again, she has transformed herself into a greaser’s dream date. She and Danny reunite with “You’re the One That I Want” and the entire cast returns to the stage to conclude the show with “We Go Together” and an encore round of “Greased Lightnin’.”

Dr. Miller is laid-back and at ease behind the keyboard, leading the cast through song after song of the cult classic’s hits – 19 songs in all.

Backstage Production Manager Susie Taylor, Stage Manager Justine Marshall and Chloe Joneth keep the show moving seamlessly. Aileigh Johnson on curtains, Colby Allen, Charlee Fuchswanz and Lily Nein on lights, and Jayden Coulombe on props. Chip Schwehm, Justine Marshall and Cameron Lewis built Rydell High bleachers out of original BRHS bleachers. Special thanks to Dennis Dacus for providing Rydell High T-shirts to the entire cast and crew. And special thanks to Tanya Thibault, Heidi Stevens, Jessica Cane, Alex and Candi Joneth, Sue Sherman, Christina Lorrain, Dr. Tricia Campbell, Manon Lewis, Kristin Cameron, Lisa Clarke, Marita Miller, Becca Miller, and the BRHS maintenance staff.