Yes, I've read that too....and the earlier Chicago version of GREASE, rougher than what was transferred to Off-Bdwy and eventually Broadway, was performed again in Chicago in more recent years.
But the Off-Bdwy/Broadway GREASE, which I saw a few times, was STILL considerably more raw and raunchy than what is performed, post movie version, as the stage musical now. Chicago to OB may have started the dilution, but what opened at the Eden (Phoenix/Entermedia, etc....) theatre in 1972 was by no means a family-friendly musical......and the film, then the celebrity casting Weisler-produced version started censoring and changing the lyrics, something that continued with the most recent Bdwy revival. It would be academically interesting to see the original Chicago version (which I understand highlighted some if the ugly racial bigotries of the characters) in a dramaturgical sense.....but I'd just like to see that 70s version again for pure entertainment. |
