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Currently in the final days of its Sydney season before opening in Melbourne in the new year, the musical Grease brings with it a plethora of marquee names in scene-stealing cameos. Alongside Rob Mills and Gretel Scarlett as Danny and Sandy, the show features big names Todd McKenney, Anthony Callea, Bert Newton and Val Lehman in parts that see them on stage for little more than a few minutes.

Lehman, best known for her portrayal of Bea Smith in the classic Australian TV series Prisoner, plays Miss Lynch – the stern headmistress of Rydell High School, and a character who wouldn鈥檛 be out of place back in Cell Block H.

鈥淲ell, I don鈥檛 think she鈥檚 killed anybody. She might have felt homicidal towards some students…but generally, even though she鈥檚 an authoritarian figure, she also has a sense of humour. She knows she鈥檚 dealing with difficult adolescents, but she was one herself one day,鈥� Lehman told the 17c起草社区.

This current production of Grease bills itself as 鈥楢ustralia鈥檚 number one party musical鈥�, and it鈥檚 a canny bit of marketing – audiences arrive primed for a good time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an enormous amount of fun – musicals generally are, but this one really gets everyone up and dancing. Everyone鈥檚 bouncing along with the music,鈥� said Lehman.

鈥淭he crew backstage are singing and dancing as well. You鈥檇 be amazed, there鈥檚 as much performance going on backstage as there is on stage sometimes. I think it鈥檚 a sign of a show working well.鈥�

Lehman is tasked with one of the key moments of the production, leading the audience in a pre-show singalong before the young cast bound on stage to sing the electrifying Barry Gibb-penned title track.

鈥淏ert and I both have that task, getting the audience on our side. I tend to boss them around a bit more! Every audience is different and each one has a personality of its own, but generally, the audience is generally very responsive.鈥�

Lehman, 70, said she鈥檇 been a fan of Grease since she saw the first Australian production back in 1972.

鈥淎nd of course I was so proud when Olivia Newtown-John got the lead role in the movie – an Australian girl up there, leading the way. I鈥檓 a fan, for sure.鈥�

After many years away from the theatre, she said she was enjoying being part of such an exuberant, young cast.

It鈥檚 such a high energy show with a lot of new faces, and there鈥檚 not a slacker there!鈥�

info: Grease plays Her Majesty鈥檚 Theatre in Melbourne from January 2.聽