FOREVER GREASE

For those who lived through the tumultuous 1960s, the 1950s seem a time of carefree fun in America. It wasn't true, of course. Americans were fighting and dying in Korea at the beginning of the Cold War. The specter of nuclear annihilation hung like a darkening cloud on the horizon, and Commies were an enemy suspected to be among us.

Despite all this, the U.S. economy was prosperous and teen-agers were discovering a new form of self-expression -- rock 'n' roll.

In 1972, just before the cynicism of Watergate surfaced, the musical "Grease" transported audiences back to these seemingly innocent days through a lighter-than-air story about "greasers" and Pink Ladies and the high school trauma of trying to fit in.

"Grease" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Show Me Center. The cast includes Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka, who previously played girlfriend and boyfriend on the long-running sitcom "Laverne & Shirley."

Williams plays Miss Lynch, the English teacher at Rydell High. Mekka, who played Carmine "The Big Ragu" Ragusa on "Laverne & Shirley," is Teen Angel and deejay Vince Fontaine in "Grease."

Audiences discovered Williams as Ron Howard's sweetheart in "American Graffiti," George Lucas' movie love letter to this era of hotrods and bobby socks. Afterward, she was cast opposite Penny Marshall in the sitcom "Laverne & Shirley."

Laverne and Shirley were the female version of the Odd Couple, two roommates constantly in conflict and yet inseparable and indomitable. As the theme song said, "Give us any chance we'll take it/ Read us any rule we'll break it/ We're going to make our dreams come true/Doing it our way."

After "Laverne & Shirley" left the air, Williams continued making TV and theatrical movies and guest appearances on other TV shows. She and her husband, Bill Hudson, own the production company that made the "Father of the Bride" films.

"Grease" opened on Broadway in 1972, a year before "American Graffiti" solidified America's fascination with the 1950s. The movie version of "Grease" released in 1978 and starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John remains the highest grossing movie musical.

"Grease" had 3,388 performances on Broadway before closing in 1980. A revival returned to Broadway in 1994.

Greasers were cool and valedictorians were not during the "Grease" era. For better or worse, things change.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: "Grease"

WHERE: Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

HOW MUCH: Ticket prices range from $23-$39.

INFORMATION: 651-5000