Grease Wales Millennium Centre, Cardifff

IT’S one of the most iconic – and best-loved – movies and you never get tired of tuning in.

But popular musical Grease was premiered on stage seven years before it became the box office hit movie famously starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as teen sweethearts Danny and Sandy.

Now, 40 years on, the trials and tribulations of Danny, Sandy and their friends at Rydell High School in Chicago are still enthralling theatre-goers and a UK touring production of the musical is currently playing out in Cardiff.

Any mega film fans expecting it to be a replica of the movie may be a little disappointed – many of the songs aren’t featured in the same scenes as they are during the film, such as Hopelessly Devoted to You and Sandra Dee, and there are additional numbers, such as Marty’s lament, Freddy My Love.

The stage production is more gritty with a bigger emphasis on gang violence and there are more sexual references than you detect in the PG-rated film.

One of the most visual differences is the fact that this Sandy (Martha Kirby) is a brunette when we all fell in love with Sandy as a wholesome, blue-eyed blonde.

It took some getting used to at first and, at the start, Kirby’s performance felt a little lacklustre but during the second half she really came into her own, with her solos, Hopelessly Devoted to You and Sandra Dee (reprise) particular highlights.

Danny (Dan Partridge) is less goofy that Travolta but he pulls off the part; however, it’s Louis Grant as Kenickie and Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Rizzo who stand out. Arguably their roles are meatier than the leads but they both have the talent to pull them off.

Grease, of course, is an ensemble piece, and the singing and choreography (by former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips) during the big numbers like Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights and We Go Together are show-stoppers. Credit too to the live band which is cleverly concealed on stage.

Special mention has to go Darren Bennett for his energetic and hilarious turn as Vince Fontaine, although the wonderful Beauty School Dropout scene, when he plays Teen

Angel, felt a little flat.

While Sandy’s “reveal” from virginal schoolgirl to vamp was nowhere near as jaw-dropping as the movie, the subsequent curtain call featuring a reprisal of all the big numbers had us all on our feet clapping and cheering.

Yes, Grease still is the word...

The show runs in Cardiff until tomorrow, October 19. Call 029 2063 6464.