Grease: Live!

With thrilling tracking and crane shots that wander backstage and then zoom out into street scenes, this production makes the most of well-known songs and drama (despite it antiquated messages). The first notice that this production isn't going to just be a flat "turn on the camera and perform a play" affair comes in the musical's opening, when a Steadicam follows rock star Jessie J as she sings the theme song -- all around the sets, through dressing rooms, past scenery and crew members, and then right on out to the street, where cast members frolic in the rain with umbrellas. It's a bracing opening, serving notice that this is one production that means to make the most of stage magic. Fans of the 1970s movie will also note that songs formerly found only on the movie's soundtrack pop up (the slumber-party rendition of "Freddy My Love" is a highlight), while other songs are gone (no more "Hopelessly Devoted"). Others are curiously edited; references to a car being a "pussy wagon" are gone, yet Rizzo (Vanessa Hudgens) still refers to a boy "flogging his log."

It all adds up to a show that's only slightly less racy than the movie and still carrying the controversial message that sex is a struggle between men and women that leave women shamed and damaged when they "give in." Still, for viewers old enough to understand and discard the sexist setup, the songs, dances, and characters are a lot of fun, making this a good bet for whole-family viewing for tweens and up.