Review: Terazije Theater, Belgrade

Hot revival of the "Grease"

The evidence of the neverending popularity of Grease in Belgrade, mostly because of its singable melodies, waving rhythm, attractive choreography and timeless teenage themes, is the third set of this very musical in the last twenty years and constant drive of the audience


By TIJANA ĐURIČIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


When we finally managed to get tickets for the cult musical Grease (again set in the Terazije Theater on the 18th April 2009.), we have expected a full hall, top musicians, young acting team, nice evening relaxation, and the original solutions of the director Miša Vukobratović - aimed to scatter the burden of previous settings (film and theater versions). Extremely proud of the idea that the manager of a theatre in Serbia offer a public audition for a soloist (this phenomena vanished into thin air decades ago) and choose a completely new generation of young actors, celebrating the 60th birthday of the only musical theater in Belgrade.

The evidence of the neverending popularity of Grease in Belgrade, mostly because of its singable melodies, waving rhythm, attractive choreography and timeless teenage themes, is the third set of this very musical in the last twenty years and constant drive of the audience.

During '90's in the adapted Hall of the Cultural Center Vuk Karadžić, Dejan Lutkić, Mina Lazarević, Marko Stojanović, Ivan Jeftović, Maja Noveljić... made a hit showing the remarkable skill of improvisation and love for the theatre, in very modest conditions - poor stage design, quite effective, but dusty costumes... Outstanding talents draw me back for 14 times to this only performance.

After the relocation to the renovated Theatre on the Terazije brought the new dazzling cast of the - Ivan Bosiljčić, Slobodan Stefanović, Nikola Bulatović... The small changes in utilities and demanding choreography brought professionalism of movement and voice to the extent that all ladies in the audience ended up in love with male cast, and the theater critics whispered with respect about musical in the Serbia.

Authors of the latest "Grease" are: director - Vukobratović, choreographer - Igor Barberić, scenographer - Geroslav Zarić, Jasminka Nešić - costume designer, conductor and musical arrangements by Milan Nedeljković. The text is translated by Jasna Stojković, while the songs were readapted by Slobodan Obradović, producer - Branislav Cerović, organizer - Aleksandra Delić.

With the regards to innovation, we can notice that the new direction just added some segments to the already existing / second version /. Unfortunately those fresh parts not inserted skillfully cause the impression of hacking. Choreography is much more modest than in the former settings - virtuos teamwork of actors-singers has turned into a dance easily performed by any citizen. The changes in lyrics do update but simultaneously destroys the poetics of time in which they were written. Even the new implanted songs and only a few words in another ones are the attempt of unadjusted aspiration. Though with more resources and new, imposant stage, costumes of Jasmika Nešić remain less tolerable than we expected.

Comments about the actors are related only to the first cast- Ivana Popović , Žarko Stepanov, David Janketić, Milan Tublić, Lazar Jovanović, Milan Bosiljčić, Leman Bećirević, Dušica Novaković, Jelena Gavrilović, Theodore Heidegger, Andrijana Tasić , Daniel Korš, Valentina Pavličić, Slobodan Stefanović, Jelena Ćosić. Ivana Popović in the role of Sendy is a pleasant surprise. Sendy is a modest, shy brunette until the end of performances when she transformes into a seductive blond. Ivan with a pleasant voice tembre, excellent diction and musical precision leaves the impression of experienced musical actress (although this role is her debute in one). Unlike her, the other three ladies charmed with noticeable acting talent and effort, do not have full voice resources required for the given roles. The male part of the team were completely anemic and non-energic. It is known that a good actor or performer attract attention only with its presence - without movement or a word. These guys, supposing, because of their youth (which should paradoxically bring hiperenergy), with all acting effort, do not "transfer the ramp". Stepanov and Jovanović have beautiful voices, which could be moderated with a little effort into a very powerful instruments, and Janketic has stage nonchalance which could with the intensive work on the movement lead to a great career in this genre.

However, the whole performance is dominated by the figures of Slobodan Stefanović - except the very attractive stage look, wonderful voice which can perform very difficult and demanding frases, he should be proud of dancing power and acting skills. This young actor is really outstanding.

The orchestra has played as usually very inspiring, though with the too loud moments, and the ensemble (ballet and choir) helped the singers to cuddle down weaknesses in the choreographic procedures. In spite of their well dancing and singing the coreography lead to impression of heterogeneous uncertainty.

The performance was as a rehearsal of the tired actors (with above mentioned exceptions) who tried to remember what are the shine and glory of Grease. Very well done announcements (site, billbord on the theatre building, interviews on the TV, newspapers reviews) and the constantly full theatre hall speak up for this project claiming that it is the effort of love and enthusisasm and that our, perhaps, strong criticism is the reflex of an only experience not the general attitude.


(Published: 18.07.2009.)