It’s Bear Grease Lightning!
Presented by LightningCloud Productions, Bear Grease is an Indigenous reimagining of the classic 1978 musical Grease, and is the first show in the NAC’s 2023–24 Indigenous Theatre lineup. Originally written and performed for the Edmonton Fringe Festival in 2021, the show has been touring across Canada and the United States for the past two years and is not to be missed.
Bear Grease at the NAC. Photo: Curtis Perry.
For starters, the writing for this show is absolutely brilliant. Multi-talented lyricist and rapper Henry Andrade (aka MC RedCloud) has rewritten the lyrics to some of the classic Grease tunes, giving them a “rez makeover,” and the result is comedic gold. The lyrics and the jokes are sharp, clever, and gut-bustingly hilarious. Although clearly aimed at an Indigenous audience, the writing strikes a magic balance where everything feels like an inside joke that we’re all in on.
As if being an unstoppable writing talent was not enough, Andrade also stars in the show as Danny, alongside his wife and the show’s co-creator and director Crystle Lightning, who plays Sandy. The powerhouse duo had incredible energy and charisma in these iconic roles and delivered captivating performances.
Henry Andrade and Crystle Lightning in Bear Grease at the NAC. Photo: Curtis Perry.
The show is not exactly a musical in the traditional sense, but more of a cabaret-style evening of entertainment inspired by the musical Grease. The focus is primarily on the songs and performances, and less on the teenage love story. In addition to rewriting some songs from the original musical, Andrade has added some of his own creations and mash-ups, including a freestyle rap that was mind-blowing. There are some very talented musicians and vocalists in the cast, and they put on a dynamic set of performances, but if you are expecting a faithful retelling of your favourite musical, you may be somewhat disappointed, as a few of the big hits are not included. However, if you can accept the show for what it is, you are sure to be in for a sock-hopping good time.
Because of the cabaret-style format of the show, there was not a lot of dialogue or staging, and perhaps a missed opportunity to develop and explore all of the characters. I loved the choice to transform the macho-misogynistic Kinickie into his alternate-universe queer-coded rez counterpart Canuckie. Rodney McCloud absolutely shone in the role and was completely captivating each time he took the stage. I wish the same could be said for the rest of the entourage, who, although they sang and danced very well in the musical numbers, lacked any real depth or dimension as characters.
Bear Grease at the NAC. Photo: Curtis Perry.
Staging was another area where the show left something to be desired. LightningCloud is a small production company working with an even smaller budget, so the set design was very minimal. The actors were using hand-held microphones instead of lav mics, which really limited their range of motion on stage, resulting in a performance that was often static and visually flat. There is so much potential in this show in terms of musical talent, and I would love to see what they could do with a bigger stage budget.
What I loved most was the obvious joy in this performance. It is a labour of love from a group of funny, talented folks, and a refreshing addition to the NAC’s lineup. Too often, shows in the category of “Indigenous Theatre” are pigeonholed into the role of educating mostly white/settler audiences about Indigenous culture, history, etc., forgetting that there are other purposes for stage storytelling besides educating, not the least of which is HAVING FUN. Laughter is indeed the best medicine, and Bear Grease offers a full-strength dose.
Catch Bear Grease at the NAC until October 14.
The NAC’s main accessible entrance is on Elgin Street. The Canal Lobby entrance and Parking 2 and 3 vestibules are also accessible. Seating for wheelchair users, the visually impaired and their companions is available in every performance venue. All NAC public spaces, event spaces, and washrooms are wheelchair accessible. Universal and companion care washrooms are located on the Orchestra level of Southam Hall.
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