Grooving with ‘Grease’

The ’50s musical brings high-school love, quiffs and bobby soxers to Cork Opera House, says Jo Kerrigan

BRYAN FLYNN is all nervous energy as he prepares for a run-through of Grease. “It’s not the traditional, old-fashioned musical at all,” he says. But the scene has to be set. Lighting-men are in discussion at the back of the auditorium. Framed in the proscenium arch, crew, cast, and even Mary Hickson, director of the Opera House, are disentangling a Gordian Knot of bead-chain curtaining that will hang across the stage. It’s all hands on deck in these final days before opening night. Behind them, a glittering, sparkling veil rises to the flies. It’s reminiscent of an Elvis spectacular. “That’s called a Vegas curtain,” says backstage man, Joe Stockdale. “We brought it in specially. As we did the bead curtaining. Would you believe that had to come from China?”

“We’re looking towards establishing a huge summer season every year here,” says Flynn. “It’s the way forward for theatres, since this, and the Christmas panto, buoy up the whole 12 months and increase ticket sales to establish the popularity of the Opera House.” Last year, The Sound of Music broke records, and was so popular it was staged again, in February. “It went crazy at the box office. People want a happy show that they can bring their kids to, and enjoy themselves as well, and Grease will certainly give them that.”