Grease - suitable for children ?

[swallowthree]

Grease has been chosen as the year 5/6 production at my children's school. I think it is totally inappropriate and conveys some very dodgy messages about being a girl, conformity and relationships. Or is it just me ?

MrsJay two icecubes, one either side of the ear, and a needle (sterilised in boiling water if you were paranoid like me ) were pretty standard in my day (80s).

I'm to admit I'd be thrilled if dd's school performed Grease, although patently it is completely unsuitable and the messages are terrible. Blame it on my age

DD's primary school performed a version a few years ago,great fun and the kids all loved it. Anything unsuitable was obviously omitted,and some lyrics changed. I remember "Keep your filthy paws off my silky drawers!" became "Keep your grubby hands off my alice-bands!"

Can't stand grease. Maybe it's due to being a misfit at school but the message that you have to be "cool" and tarty to be worth going out with is appaling. It also tells boys that they shouldn't go out with bookish or "nice" girls. Ugghhh.

I was supply teaching at a school where they were discussing doing it at a y6 production. I asked about how they were going to deal with the sex aspect and they hadn't even thought about it!

I'm a secondary school drama teacher a d have never dared do it as a school play because of everything mentioned here! Some of the kids I teach now did it at the end of primary school (I was ) but it was a heavily edited version. I've now bitten the bullet and looked into doing it for next year's show BUT the rights are now held by an American company (they used to be with Samuel French UK) and it's massively expensive to put on a production. I can only assume that your school, OP is doing some sort of "version" as the full thing would set them back £700-£1000 for the rights.

It could be worse they could have opted for High School Musical instead!

I have only ever seen Grease on TV on a bank holiday Monday wet afternoon - so have only ever seen the edited clean version. Is the full on filthy version available on DVD or has that been toned down too???

OP I totally agree with you. It's all about conforming to the status quo, rather than standing up for who you are. Really dreadful. And the score doesn't have a single memorable song. Terrible choice.

However, be prepared to be called a prude, or worse, if you talk to the school about it. If you do decide to raise it, perhaps have a couple of possible alternative musicals to suggest. There are so many great great musicals with fantastic music and splendid roles for boys and girls, without the noxious message that Grease has.

Hi,
Don't panic they will be using the schools version script. Its is heavily modified and all the bits not appropriate are removed (unplanned pregnancy, smoking, drinking, snogging....). If you google it you'll be able to see whats in and whats out.

Hope it helps.

I've not read all the replies, only the first page. I used to love Grease when I was about 8 or 9, and watched it loads of times.
I recently watched it again for the first time in years as an adult, and do you know what?
I can honestly say that at the age of 9 the whole adult theme of girl has to conform and put out and the rest of it, went COMPLETELY over my head at that age.
I saw Grease a few weeks back with my sister, and the lyrics were up on screen as one of those sing along things) and we were both a bit [shocked] at the words to Grease LIghtning - the whole 'pussy wagon' and 'the chick's 'll cream" lyrics just aren't on your radar at that age (I used to think it was scream until seeing that! )
As adults, we read way more into it and look at it in more depth. As kids, they just don't get the adult themes and see it as a good dance and sing along movie.
It's only as adults we see the main theme.

havingaminute, you said it much better than I could manage this morning, and you are so right!

We had a pink ladies club at primary (about year 5 I think). I've considered letting my 4 yo see it as she loves musicals but I think I'll wait a couple of years. I imagine they'll miss out Rizzo's pregnancy scare and the kissing.

My DD1 had a Grease themed joint party with her BFF last year when they were 6 & 7 years old. The girls all dressed up as Pink Ladies, the boys all came as T-Birds, it was fantastic, and becasue of the age of most of the parents, they really enjoyed it too, right back to our era it was!!!

Sorry but i'd say YABU, Grease is a great iconic film and sure there are inappropriate messages within it, but for most little girls seeing it for the first time, it's an olden days version of Hannah Montanna, but with better music!!

have to say i really hope that ds's school doesn't choose to do it because i would really struggle with it for all these reasons. it is the absolute peak of adolescent horribleness - i would rather they did almost any other show. whatever happened to maeterlinck's 'the blue bird' eh?

Round here two fish fingers were standard numbing material for ear piercing at home

Thanks - feeling more balanced about it now and will wait for the script.

Hi everyone,

Just sweeping this interesting thread into films.