It is a celebration of black leather jackets, quiffs, ankle socks and A-line skirts. Yes, Grease is back again with all cylinders firing.

This slice of Fifties American highschool life was a Broadway hit in 1972 and went global with the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

Now 31 years old, it still seems as fresh as when it was born. It rips along at a stonking speed and carries the audience with it all the way.

You will tap your feet, move your head and want to jump out of your seat jiving. Young or old, you just can't help but love the show.

No wonder Channel 4 voted it number one in its top 100 musicals.

The story is simple. Sandy, an innocent and naive student at Rydell High School, has met fellow student Danny on the beach during the holidays and they have clicked. But back at school Danny, a rebel at heart, seems not to be quite so interested.

Still, love finds the way and you can guess the rest. What we have here is really just an excuse for some great dancing and some great pop music as disco meets rock and roll.

The lyrics, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, are surprisingly adult and the music, by a band perched above the stage, is wonderfully hummable.

The pace is the thing. That and some gorgeous girls completely unafraid to show their thighs.

My step-daughter accompanied me and Grease is one of her top two musicals. She says there are also some good six packs to look at in the shower scene.

On opening night, the advertised Sandy, Susan Carley, was indisposed and Lianne Harwood took the role. She made an excellent Sandy and when she changed into a black cat suit, she was superb a great mover with a fine voice.

Norman Bowman was a nice Danny. No, he doesn't move like John Travolta (who could?) but his voice is close and my companion made no complaints about him.

The female characters are all highly energetic, although dominated by Mary Doherty's Rizzo. Rizzo may be something of a tramp but she is a stunning one.

The choreography is delivered deftly and with much pizzazz, loads of high kicks and sure foot work and that's just the girls.

The boys, as boys were in the Fifties, seem more knowing than the girls but they are all fetching.

The set piece, the on-stage arrival of the cadillac and the dance at the school gym are wonderfully done.

Grease is a high-temperature romp which will make you feel good whether you are seven or 70.