One minute you are strolling peacefully through Battersea Park, the next you appear to have jumped in Marty McFly’s time machine and have been whizzed back to 1959. Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical is lighting up London, and it isn’t just about watching the classic musical at the cinema. Instead, you’ll be treated to a fun night out at Rydell High School.
Before the movie even starts rolling, you can snack on authentic Chicago-style hot dogs, grab a cocktail or take a ride on the rickety big wheel. There’s also the chance to snap a quick selfie on the stairs of the Shake Shake used in the movie’s famous finale.
Suddenly, the giant outdoor screens power up and begin playing the opening scene of the film. You’re ushered into the huge neon-filled auditorium where the fun continues.
The staging definitely has the wow-factor, with some VIP guests able to sit in an American-style diner for the night or there’s the option enjoy the experience from the comfort of classic cars.
This is like watching Grease on steroids as it mixes the movie with real-life action – there’s even a full band which strikes up when the famous songs start playing.
You are free to roam around the room, top up those drinks and get involved with the audience regularly encouraged to join the T-Birds and Pink Ladies on the main stage and have a boogie. There’s no doubt that Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical will put on a whopping great smile on your face.
The 30-strong cast is excellent, especially Sandy (Stephanie Costi) and Danny (Liam Morris), who do a good job of replicating those legendary scenes between John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Lucy Penrose as Rizzo also steals a bit of the show with a crowd-pleasing rendition of There Are Worse Things I Could Do.
The musical numbers shine, and even those with two left feet will be up and jiving when Greased Lightnin’ gets in full gear.
However, despite plenty of dancing, singing and lots of laughs, there are times when it all gets far too frantic. Key scenes from the movie are totally missed in the melee, and there are points where you’ll simply have no clue what is going on. Some of the interactions between cast members and the audience can be a bit painful at times.
It almost feels like Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical is made for the TikTok generation, who have zero attention span and can’t watch one thing for more than 30 seconds.
And that’s probably its biggest downfall. Do you get to watch the entire Grease movie on a pin-sharp IMAX screen? Not really. Do you get the full West End-style musical experience? Absolutely not.
It’s basically a mish-mash of both, and some might find that extremely annoying.
Did I have a brilliant night out at Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical? Hell yes, and I didn’t stop singing, laughing and dancing all night long.
Would I go back for a second helping? I think I’d rather grab a milkshake, a bucket of popcorn and enjoy the full, uninterrupted 1978 movie from the comfort of my sofa.
Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical at Evolution London, Battersea Park runs until September 7.
