Grease is the word at la Salle Albert-Rousseau

Rydell High comes to Quebec City

Quebec City (Québec) Wednesday 6 July – Grease – what’s not to like? Everyone loves it and everyone knows the songs.

Well they might think they do, until they hear some of them in French.

A full house for the opening night of Grease (starring Annie Villeneuve and Jason Roy Léveillé) were treated to a fabulous show. The long and loud standing ovation at the end testament to that.

A red carpet, VIP cocktail, and a stable of classic cars greeted patrons as they made their way in to la Salle Albert-Rousseau.

Right from the opening number you just knew this was going to fly.

If you love the film, you’ll love this show for the music alone. The set changes and scenes were impressive and a clever use of cast members for some of the changes ensured the changes ran smoothly.

The cast is a large one, it has to be, and there’s not one weak link in it.

The dialogue has been adapted for a Quebec audience and it is genuinely funny. It comes across well.

The translation for the songs and script is superb. It’s not word for word – it can’t be, but it works well.

The dialogue and mannerisms are really close to the film – the performers have clearly devoured every detail, every subtle nuance.

Annie Villeneuve as the female lead is perfect. Funny, sensitive, determined, sometimes childishly angelic, and not too serious.

Everytime Villeneuve took to the microphone she gave you goosebumps. Her voice is incredible.

The songs were a mixture of English and French. The audience sang along to the French versions as the tune was the same, they really came alive when the English versions of Hopelessly Devoted to You, Tell Me More, You’re the One that I Want, and We Go Together were sung.

Male lead Jason Roy-Léveillé is a great foil in the role of Danny Zuko. Cheek, comic timing, and a knowing smile. It’s all there.

Marilou Morin as Rizzo displays a great vocal range and is a huge talent.

Maxime-Olivier Potvin plays Doody but really comes into his own as as Frenchy’s Guardian Angel in the Beauty School Dropout scene.

Monik Vincent as Miss Lynch steals the show in the above scene. Brilliant.

There are a few twists, such as Kenickie and Rizzo winning the hand jive contest (a first in the entire history of Grease).

Grease is the word. Thanks to this cast, backstage crew and musicians (who joined the cast on stage to take a bow at the end) it’s also got groove and meaning!

Catch Grease at la Salle Albert -Rousseau until July 24.

You’ll laugh. You’ll sing along. You’ll leave on a high – a Rydell High!

Cast:

Annie Villeneuve (Sandy Dumbrowsky), Jason Roy Léveillé (Danny Zuko), Marilou Morin (Betty Rizzo), Philippe Touzel (Kenickie), Isabelle Giroux (Marty), Gabrielle Fontaine (Frenchy), Marie-Claude St-Laurent (Jan), Dominic St-Laurent (Eugène), Simon Frechette (Roger), Maxime-Olivier Potvin (Doody & Guardian Angel), Mathieu Lorain-Dignard (Sonny), Éléonore Lagacé (Patty Simcox), Jade Bruneau (Cha-Cha), Pierre-Olivier Grondin (Johnny Casino), Vincent Fafard (Vince Fontaine), Monik Vincent (Miss Lynch).