A decade after the last Australian production, this much-loved musical returns with plenty of the feelgood nostalgia many of us crave in these troubled times.

Directed by Luke Joslin, this new production of Grease gathers a likeable young cast, plus a few veterans including Marcia Hines in small roles. While they rarely knock it out of the park, and the set is wanting, there’s more than enough talent, energy and irresistible hit songs to make this show fly by very enjoyably.

Joseph Spanti, Marcia Hines, Annelise Hall and cast in Grease. Photo © Jeff Busby

Written and composed by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease began as a somewhat serious play with music in Chicago in 1971. By the next year it was a Broadway musical hit with a more upbeat vibe, and in 1978 Grease was memorably adapted for the screen with new songs and even less social realism. Since then, stage musical productions have usually incorporated many elements from the film.

Set in an American high school in 1959, the show follows the unlikely, on-again, off-again romance of cool guy Danny and goody two shoes Sandy. We also witness the...