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Stay awhile:
 I
am a PhD student in journalism/
mass communications at the
E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, where I teach a range of
undergraduate journalism courses. Prior to grad school, I was a reporter at
The Vindicator, the daily newspaper in Youngstown Ohio.
My hobbies include
winemaking and working on my classic VW Dormobile camper. Once in a great while
I write a book review.
Inside
you can find:
Ancient story about me in
Cleveland Jewish News
Pictures
of my cats Sally and Daisy.
Instructions to make your own wine
Tips for
beating a speeding ticket
Contact me:
10 Herrold
Ave.
Athens, OH
45701
(330)
647-4298
stephensiff@yahoo.com
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Theater
Review: Grease Playhouse troupe grasps gang's heartfelt desires |
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 By STEPHEN SIFF
Vindicator Staff Writer
YOUNGSTOWN -- It was true when you were in high school too. The bad kids do have more fun.
With the fighting and hubcap-stealing and sex, the bobby-soxers and greasers of Rydell High School, circa 1950-something, were no teen angels.
But their innocent desires -- for recognition, hormonal release, a cool car -- come through clearly in the production of the musical "Grease" at The Youngstown Playhouse.
"Grease" is one of the most successful musicals in Broadway history, but any production since the 1978 blockbuster movie has its work cut out for it.
After all, John Travolta and Olivia Newton John are hard acts to follow.
The mostly young cast at the Playhouse does the job admirably, presenting a lively, engaging show that will glow in the mind's eye after the final curtain falls.
Supporting characters: "Grease," the stage show, has a more diffuse focus than the movie, allowing the spotlight to spend relatively more time on the supporting characters than on the rocky romance of Sandy and Danny.
The supporting cast at the Playhouse was excellent, from the trampy Pink Ladies to the crude Burger Palace Boys. Individually, members of both gangs shined when their solos came up:
Mac Clebone as Doody accented his voice with the perfect teen-aged sneer on "Those Magic Changes," and Mike Mraz as Roger managed to weave a difficult course between sincerity and smirk on "Mooning." (Yes, it is about mooning in both senses of the verb.)
On the girls' side, Quinn Morlock's Frenchy was so well put together that one could practically hear the beauty school drop-out's gum popping from the eighth row, and Amy Annico's Rizzo exuded vulnerability and vulgarity in just the right proportion.
Unfortunately, the production was a bit softer at the center. David Leone failed to project either his voice or his cool in the lead male role of Danny.
The female lead, Miriam Vargo, had similar difficulties, leading the viewer to wonder at times if Sandy really needed a prom date, or a prescription for Prozac.
Stay together: Despite these problems, the musical still hung together, like a knot of friends making their way through the school cafeteria.
The poodle skirts, music and leather jackets of "Grease" are strictly stylized '50s, but the vagaries of adolescence are perhaps timeless.
Even those who were honors students in high school will identify with what went on in these rebels' hearts.
"Grease" will be at The Playhouse through Aug. 6.
1/21/00
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