The name Robert has Germanic origins and means ‘famed, bright. shining’ its hard to think of a more appropriate name for Grease star Rob Mills. Rob’s definitely a bright shining light, evidenced in his portrayal of Danny Zuko in the touring production of Grease. Rob Mill’s co-star in this production is the lovely Gretel Scarlett and true to her name Gretel, meaning ‘pearl’ and ‘Scarlet’, red, she is red hot at the moment after playing the decidedly green Elphaba in ‘Wicked’. As for ‘Grease’ Gretel is a pearl of talent playing the role of Sandy.
I had the pleasure of chatting to Rob and Gretel recently when they visited Tasmania for the 25th anniversary of the Derwent Entertainment Centre. The DEC will be the venue for Grease later this year and Rob and Gretel were keen to research the history of the venue while they were here.
Rob tells me he gets down to Tasmania often and loves MONA which he calls ‘an exceptional museum in a beautiful location” and enjoys visiting Salamanca and The Theatre Royal. Rob has also participated in Carols by Candlelight at Sandy Bay.
When the Grease cast are in Tassie in September there will be some extra days to explore. Gretel is especially keen on researching architecture and cafes.
Rob nominates his favourite song from Grease as ‘Grease lightening’ as it is “a huge production rock song”.
Rob explains that although he is giving the Rob Mills treatment to Danny Zuko he will keep the John Travolta ‘strut’ and ‘chuckle’ in his portrayal and admits he is a little nervous of doing justice to Travolta’s dance moves especially when performing in the dancing contest section of the production.
Gretel reminds me that Grease is visiting Tassie for the first time since 1998. Gretel says ‘Summer Nights’ and ‘Hopelessly devoted to you’ are her particular picks from the songs as they “take her to another place”, she adds that the opening number ‘Grease is the word’ creates a buzzing reaction in the audience.
Gretel’s first experience of Grease was watching the movie mega mix as a ten year old. She says her Sandy will be hybrid of the movie and the musical character. She explains that the original musical Grease was a more “raw, gritty theatre experience”, in which Sandy was an American girl with ‘a catholic demure side’, while the movie Sandy was adapted a little to suit Olivia Newton-John, making Sandy an Australian outsider, and of course, being an outsider is one of the themes of Grease as it deals with a time of teenage angst. For the feminists out there Gretel say Grease is a product of its time, the 1950s, when a girl might dress up to please a boy.
The production will also showcase the story of Jan and Roger from the musical but lesser known in the movie.
While at the moment Rob and Gretel are very much engrossed in Grease I ask what next for them?
Gretel would love to play one of the leads in ‘Frozen’ and to truly employ her talents as a triple threat by playing ‘Roxie’ or ‘Velma’ from ‘Chicago’. Gretel also has an album coming out mid year which features contemporary pop songs.
On Rob’s wish list is maybe playing Hugh Jackman’s brother or son in a production!. Hopefully, next year, Rob will tour a cabaret show and he also has aims for TV and straight plays as well as musicals.
You can see Grease at the Derwent Entertainment Centre on Friday 5th September to Sunday 7th September.
Paula Xiberras
