WITH less than two weeks to go until opening night, the Frome Times spoke to Ryan Hughes and Emma Golay who play Danny and Sandy about the upcoming show Grease at the Memorial Theatre.
Can you briefly outline the story from your character’s perspective?
Ryan – Danny has fallen in love over the summer with Sandy and when she unexpectedly shows up again he struggles because he feels he has to act cool and macho around the T-Birds and Pink Ladies. Luckily after a few ups and down (and a few songs!) he realises that he needs to stop caring what everyone else thinks and realises Sandy is the one he wants.
Emma – Sandy is the new girl at Rydell High and she has just had the most amazing summer on the beach where she met Danny Zuko – her dream guy. However, when she goes to school she discovers that Danny already goes to Rydell, and finds it hard to fit in with his crowd – the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies. Eventually, Sandy breaks free from her naive ways, and with the help of Danny and the Pink Ladies, becomes a much more comfortable version of her true self.
Are you a fan of the movie?
Ryan – I’m a HUGE fan of the movie! It was probably my first taste of musicals. I remember getting the video and playing it over and over again.”
Emma – I’m also a huge fan of the movie. I remember watching it from a young age because both my parents loved it and I thought the story was fun and the songs exciting! ‘We Go Together’ and ‘You’re The One That I Want’ are the kind of songs that will never leave your head. They are just so catchy.
How are rehearsals going?
Ryan – Rehearsals are going incredibly well. It’s such a talented cast and it’s amazing to be doing the show with them. The hardest part was forgetting everything I thought I knew about the songs and dances because when you’re doing it for real and not just singing ‘Summer Nights’ on Karaoke, it’s quite different.
Emma – “With less than two weeks to go, the show is going to be fantastic! The whole cast is lovely and get along so well, so alongside the fast-paced dances, which are pretty tiring but so fun to perform, the whole experience is amazing. We’ve already finished blocking the show and we’re now just polishing up so that it looks spectacular.
Do you have a favourite song you’re looking forward to performing? Why?
Ryan – Wow that’s a difficult one! Dance wise I can’t wait to perform ‘Hand Jive’ because the choreography is brilliant and song wise I can’t wait to sing ‘Sandy’.
Emma – I personally really like performing ‘You’re The One That I Want’. After portraying sweet Sandy for the entire show it’s nice to finally take a break and just go kind of crazy as ‘sexy Sandy’. It’s also my first big number in the show, and such an iconic song, the audience are going to love it.
How many years have you been performing and what attracted you to the stage?
Ryan – I’ve performed on and off a lot in my life but it’s wasn’t until joining the Frome Musical Theatre Company and Merlin Theatre Productions in 2012 that I fully got into it. The stage has always attracted me because there is something about taking an audience on a journey that I love.
Emma – I started performing when I was about 9 or 10 years-old in FMTC’s Spellbound. A couple of my friends were involved and since I enjoyed watching the pantomimes and the main shows so much, I thought ‘why not?’ – after a lot of persuasion from my parents that is.
What can people expect when they take their seats for Grease the musical?
Ryan – They can expect to see the story they know and love, but with a few little extras throw in for fun!
Emma – Energy, fun, colour, excitement! Everything that makes Grease amazing, times by one hundred.
Tickets are on sale from the Memorial Theatre box office open 9.30 am – 1pm Monday to Saturday on 01373 462795 or by booking online at www.frome memorialtheatre.org.uk.
Tickets: adults £16, concessions £14, party booking £13 (bookings of ten or more people). The show runs from Tuesday 9th – Saturday 13th May at 7.30pm with a matinee also on Sat. 13th at 2.30pm.
