Greasy opens to rave revues! Well done everyone! Darlings, you were marvelous and everybody said so too! Here are some snaps from the dress rehersal on the Sunday before the first show. Click on the thumbnail for the full picture.
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Margaret and George both meet in the hotel bar during a Chip-fat seminar organised by a major chip-fat manufacturer. They find they have more in common than fish and chips and get to know each other quite well during their stay. But there's Bad News on the Doorstep when the story breaks of Buddy Holly death on Feb 3rd - sot its "Bye Bye American Pie!"

At the end of the seminar, they reluctantly part with fond memories but, because of the distance, not expecting to see each other again. However, George's son, Robert a singer with a local rock and roll band, falls in love with a girl with really big brothers who object to the relationship. Robert persuades his dad that they would all be better off moving the business - and themselves - to London.

Margaret's sons are in the middle of the brisk Friday Chip shop rush when a Chip Van pulls up across the road driven by Robert and his brother (?). They go over and explain to the robert that he can't park there and if he thinks he can start selling fish and chips on their patch he will spend the rest of his life with a rather large gerkin lodged in an unusual place.

When George is told about the encounter, he gets all indignant; uttering things like "who do they think they are?" and "do they own the whole bloody world then?" and "what about free trade and fair competition and stuff?" and "no-one is going to tell him what he can and can't do!"

Next day the van is back and Margaret's family decide that drastic action is called for. There follows a series of tit for tat but hopefully clever and inventive pranks. Margaret decides that none of this is good for business and tells Roberts Brother that she wants to talk to the boss.

A meeting is arranged and the two lovers meet again! George and Margaret attempt to cool things down but both sides feel that things have gone too far and that under the circumstances the best way to settle things is to have a final showdown. Both sides agree to pick a champion and meet for a fish fight (as in Monty Python sketch).

Meanwhile, all sorts of other stuff is happening. Robert's girl-friend's brothers want their sister back and the man who led her astray hospitalised for a month. Their search brings them to London checking dance halls, coffee bars etc where Robert may be plying his trade as a rock and roll singer or just hanging out.

Margaret's Daughter, Peggy Sue, is part of a gang of mod girls two of whom are the girl friends of Marty and Duane ( her two sons). Eddie, George's other son, falls for one of the gang of mod girls which is bound to lead to complications and does.

Georges Daughter, Lavern, gets in with a gang of rocker girls who are the mod girls rivals. But, she takes a shine to Margaret's son, Duane which does not please his current girlfriend.

Maria's Father and Brothers come across Robert during a talent contest heat but he escapes with minor injuries. They follow him through the play finally turning up at the end of the fish fight. George and Margaret announce their intention to get married and the others, realising that they are soon to be one family, unite against this new threat and drive the baddies away, Robert comes second at the talent contest and is pipped a the post by George and Margaret (possibly) and everyone lives happily ever after.

The relationships are complex, so I think we need to address them really early in the show. So, using a device I saw used in Blood Brothers, I suggest we have everyone on stage at the start - all in shadow, then highlight each person or group of persons and use naration to tell the audience who they are and what will happen with them. Naration could be spread around this time with the opeing narator being one of the band - maybe Dave Plane - who could start the show with the Death of Buddy and lead the audience in American Pie (Feb 3rd 1959 being the day the music died with Buddy).

Likewise, and this was Maureen's idea, scene changes could be done openly while the band plays and people sing songs relevant to the plot. Very arty!