More Theater Monday: Vape! The Grease Parody

We received complimentary tickets to Vape! The Grease Parody for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Vape! The Grease Parody

Where: Theatre 555

             555 W. 42nd St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 13 and Up  

When: Through January 4, 2026

Vape! The Grease Parody is more of a satire of the movie than of the stage show, although, of course, there is plenty of intersection between the two since the film was based on the stage show.  The current show works best when making fun of obvious discrepancies or plot holes within the film. These include the fact that, although the movie is about high schoolers, the cast is clearly populated with actors who are all significantly older. Plus, no suitable explanation is given for why Sandy's family has suddenly moved to town. 

Ironically, there are also discrepancies within this show itself. It is not simply a parody of Grease and movie musicals but goes off on tangents, parodying other films in different genres. This includes animated films like The Little Mermaid, and any given slasher film. These forays can be jarring and confusing, taking away focus from the actual movie the show is meant to be parodying. 

This does not mean, however, that the show is not enjoyable at all. It is loaded with delightful new subversive versions of many of the movie's songs. The more closely you listen to the words, the more amusing and entertaining these songs are. The performers are clearly having a good time, as well, which only adds to the audience's enjoyment.

The performances are mostly good, although Lara Strong, in the role of Sandy, is the standout cast member. She has just the right mix of innocence and savviness. Plus, her accent is lovely. As a native of New Zealand, it probably comes more easily to her than to others, although even though Australian and New Zealand accents may be quite similar, they are still not exactly the same. 

Although the film is rated PG-13 due to smoking, sexual innuendo, and more, all of that has been ramped up here. There is also sudden, unnecessary violence as the show briefly morphs into something more akin to a slasher movie than a song and dance extravaganza. These things make it extremely inappropriate for young children. It is also not a particularly good choice for those unfamiliar with the film.  Although fans of only the stage musical may still somewhat enjoy this show, those completely unfamiliar with both are likely to be lost and unamused.

And that's our view. For more about Vape! A Grease Parody or to purchase tickets, visit vapethemusical.com

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credits: 

All Vape! The Grease Parody production photos by Jeremy Daniel

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Address any concerns regarding image usage here.