STAGE REVIEWS : ‘GREASE’ OFFERS BENIGN LOOK BACK AT THE ‘50S

“Grease” at the Southampton Dinner Theatre is refreshing, bubbly and mostly benign--a sort of ‘50s Lite.

Of course, the ‘50s have been parodied so much that it’s difficult to determine where reality leaves off and the cliches begin. “Grease,” written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, helped fan the fever of ‘50s nostalgia when it made its debut in 1972.

Its characters are teen-age caricatures of the ‘50s: tough guys in leather jackets whose idea of being daring is swiping hubcaps or mooning the high school English teacher; their gum-snapping female counterparts, maybe a little loose and more than a little dim but with hearts of gold, and the usual icons of geekdom, a nerdy bookworm and an unremittingly perky cheerleader.

The Southampton cast dives straight into these stereotypes with appreciative gusto. The one characterization that comes closest to reality is Kathy Fitzgerald’s tough-as-nails Betty Rizzo. She finds shadings and poignancy in Rizzo, shaping her solo, “There Are Worse Things I Could Do,” into the show’s lone moment of truth in a compelling ode to honesty.

But “Grease” never stays serious for long; its aim isn’t to convince, just to entertain. Mark Brey cooperates by sandpapering some of the gritty edge off Danny Zuko, the leader of the pack. He makes an engaging delinquent--more hype than hood--backed by a strong voice that can pack teen-age lament into a song such as “Alone at a Drive-in Movie.” Lisa Soland is a nice combination of eager and shy as Sandy, the new girl in town who isn’t quite cool enough for Danny and his gang. Soland delivers an affecting reprise of “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” as she begins a convincing transition from goody-two-shoes to tigress.

There are other performers who take stereotypes and sketch in amusing details. Among them are Dan Wingard as the tormented nerd; Lauren Sterling, Lezlie Baker and Kim Harris as the tough Pink Ladies and Peggy Hickey as a tempestuous blind date. As Danny’s goof-off buddies, Dennis Osborne, Joe Heintzelman, Joseph Savant and Dino Palazzi are appropriately all bluff and no bite.

Director Mark Herrier briskly moves the action around a spare set that rather dubiously doubles for a high school cafeteria, gymnasium, girls’ bedrooms, park, street corner, drive-in and malt shop. It works better at some times than others; the tight quarters make for a staging of “Summer Nights” that is too close for comfort. But despite the space limitations, Brad Flanagan works in some spirited, atmospheric choreography that captures the flavor of the ‘50s, especially in the neat executions of “Greased Lightnin’ ” and “Born to Hand-Jive.” D. Jay Bradley contributed the solid musical direction.

“Grease” will play through June 14 at Southampton Dinner Theatre, 140 Avenida Pico, San Clemente. Information: (714) 498-7576.