You know what’s the problem with “Grease?”

The main characters of Danny and Sandy aren’t as interesting as Kenickie and Rizzo. That was the case even with the blockbuster 1978 movie, too, as it was tonight at the premiere of the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s theatrical production. But the movie at least had John Travolta and Olivia Newton John in the starring roles and their charisma and star power made up the difference in character development.

I’m quibbling, though, and probably applying an impossible standard. Eric Schneider and Emily Padgett were more than entertaining and the show in all was really good fun. But I couldn’t help but imagine David Ruffin, who played Kenickie, as Danny Zuko.

If you’re any kind of a fan of “Grease,” and, yes, I am, though Mona’s an even bigger fan — to the extent that she insisted we dress for the part (yes, I wore a leather jacket and jeans to the show and Mona looked the part with a ’50s-style dress and a wig!) — you will really enjoy this production. The choreography is superb and the dancing was well done. Bridie Carroll as Jan and Will Blum as Roger deserve special mention for their top-notch singing.

Speaking of singing, perhaps the biggest attraction — or curiosity depending on your perspective — was Taylor Hicks of “American Idol” fame who played Teen Angel.

His scene, where he drops down from on high to tell Frenchy that she ought to go back to high school, is entertaining enough — it maintains the hammy vibe of “Grease” and then some, especially when Erin Henry Kate Morgan Chadwick, playing Frenchy, jokes “I voted for you” during the number. Henry, by the way, was excellent and Hicks was OK enough.

But the oddest part of the show is its ending. Not the one we’re all used to as Sandy takes charge and tells Danny “You’re the one that I want” after her transformation from a bobby soxer to a greaser (although it is odd that, unlike the film, Danny  has quit the track team and doesn’t provide that foil for the new Sandy as the clean-cut jock with the letterman’s jacket). No, it’s when Hicks comes out to do a solo number — a blue-eyed soul song he might have sung on Idol that is not anything like the movie of the play’s era and then announces he will sign autographs on his new CD after the show. It felt like a sort-of non-sequitur infomercial.

But, not to be too much of a downer, I should say the show has a terrific warm-up with the charismatic Dominic Fortuna starting things off as Vince Fontaine singing a few numbers and clowning with the audience. Naturally, as is my luck, he singles me out of the crowd for some laughs (can you blame him?).

“Good job,” he told the audience after getting them to sing along with him. “I saw everybody singing except that guy in the blue. He was still looking in the program to see who I am.”

But I can explain! Mona had asked me for a mint and it was like the dominoes all started falling from there. I dropped my pen and notebook as I fished around for the mint and the song ended right there — fresh bait for a laugh!

Hey, I could have had the last laugh and panned Mr. Fortuna, but I have to say … it was pretty funny and I had a great time. You will too. Check it out. The show is playing until May 10 at Segerstrom Hall.

UPDATE

I goofed up. The actress who plays French is Kate Morgan Chadwick.

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