‘Grease’ car is areal disaster on wheels

October 1997

The 1960s Ford Anglia acquired by the Oyster Lane Theatre Group for their forthcoming production of ‘Grease’ has turned out to be a real disaster on wheels.

To begin with, the car - which was in temporary residence in a local garage - caught fire there when a stray spark from a bonfire landed on it. The car, which had already had its engine taken out, was little more than a burnt-out shell when cast members picked it up.

But all was not lost, as the chrome features on the front of the car were still intact, and it was decided that a clean-up job could be done.

The car was then put on a trailer and was being towed to Pierce’s Foundry when another disaster struck. As it was being brought around by the Talbot Garage, it fell off the trailer, and suffered considerably more damage.

It was eventually brought into Pierce’s and the clean-up work began, but as the car was being sprayed, the delicate shell split down the middle.

Nevertheless, the show must go on, and the talented workers in Pierce’s managed to get her cut in half (only the front half of the car is actually needed on stage), painted up, and put in order for the show.

Fingers are now crossed that nothing else will go wrong before the show goes on in Dun Mhuire next week. Otherwise, the T-Birds could find themselves going to the drive-in on foot!