There was a tragic crime committed last Saturday near the junction of Jackson and Sixth Avenue. And you were probably a victim.



There were several empty seats at Tacoma Musical Playhouse’s staging of Grease. Granted, there weren’t many, and those were likely sold, but the patrons opted to do something other than watch the show. That careless act meant someone could have taken their seats instead of the absolute waste of vacant space. This was a great show. And you likely didn’t see it because someone took your seat.



I have said this countless times before, but TMP knows how to bring it when it needs to be brought. I had high hopes for this show since it is one of the first musicals I studied when I was a young lad. I have picked apart this show time and time again, both its stage and movie versions as well as its knockoff sequels. The root of every side comment of its script has been pondered and debated through my head over the passing decades. And now this show added another layer in its own way. Instead of just playing it safe by copying the characters from previous versions or the movie, these South Sounders brought their own style to their roles while still honoring the spirit of this tribute to the early days of rock ‘n’ roll.



Danny (masterfully played by Matt Posner) anchored the show by diving into the complexities of the greaser with a heart of gold opposite his love interest, the pure and wholesome Sandy (Hailey Meier), who walks a tough road as she tries to fit into a world she finds shallow and foreign.



Posner’s powerful pipes play well off Meier’s angelically energized voice to create songs that could drive music producers diving for their contract-signing pens. I’d buy the CD of this show if it were offered — hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink. The ensemble adds to their perfections, bringing the production to the upper ranks of shows seen in modern times around these parts. It was a fun, fun, fun show. I got the vibe that the actors and pit musicians were having fun, because that energy surged through their performance like a spark created through a shuffle along a shag carpet. Jeffrey Stvrtecky’s hard-driving reaches for perfection from his musicians pays off with some memorable tunes.



TMP likely hates when I mention this time and again, but even though the theater just finished renovations of its gorgeous lobby, it should hold a capital campaign to add a balcony or otherwise expand the theater. There will be violence as theatergoers clamor for tickets if the theater keeps staging the sort of quality it has in recent years. Depriving people of the opportunity to see shows like this by selling out time and again is just as much of a crime as when people buy tickets only to leave their seats vacant.



[Tacoma Musical Playhouse, through Aug. 3, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $16-$23, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.6867, www.tmp.org]



Steve Dunkelberger has covered the South Sound theater scene for 14 years.  He can be reached at viewfromthecheapseats@bigfoot.com or at his virtual voice mail at 320.216. 5007.