High School Musical

College Cool Sporty Guy meets nerdy girl, they fall in love, only for it to end when they go their separate ways. Back in college after the break, and by some strange twist of fate, said nerdy girl now goes to cool boy`s college……. Grease isn`t the word, but judging by the story, it could well be. Whilst on a winter skiing holiday, Troy Bolton (the college cool guy), is smitten by Gabriella Montez (the geeky nerd). With such opposing backgrounds will the course of true love ever run smooth, especially while others are plotting and scheming to ensure it doesn`t. They audition for the upcoming school musical, but the usual “stars” of the show (Sharpay and her brother, Ryan) will do anything and everything to ensure that they are not usurped from their star status - even to the point of managing to having the call - backs for auditions re-arranged to clash with Championship basketball game and the science decathlon. Will Troy get to audition AND play the game? Will Gabriella get to audition AND help her team in the Science decathlon? Of course they will, but not `til a fair bit of singing and dancing is done.

Oliver Banks took on the role of Troy - another confident performance from Oliver, handling the two sides of Troy (the Team/Jock Troy, and the sensitive Troy) really well. The difference between the two was obvious - showing assertiveness and leadership when with the team, and an awkwardness and tenderness when with Gabriella.

Caitlin McIntosh gave a great performance as Gabriella Montez, the science geek. Starting as slightly shy and awkward in others company, Caitlin’s Gabriella grew more confident thoughout the piece, coming into her own when with Troy, and taking it up a notch with her singing. Oliver and Caitlin created a likeable chemistry between each other, without the air of awkwardness that both the performers and audience can sometimes feel when romance is played out in a Junior production. Whilst this was well performed throughout, the most touching and heartfelt moment, for me, was the duet “What I`ve been looking for” at the piano- with both hanging on each other’s words and Gabriella`s wistful looks, whilst Kelsie Neilson (played well by Ella Hartley), their introvert and put upon (by Sharpay) musical composer played on.

Layla Rae and Toby Sainty were well cast as Sharpay Evans and her brother Ryan. Layla’s portrayal had all the spite, cunning and attitude as befits any stage baddie, with Toby’s Ryan being the perfect foil for Sharpay. Both portrayals of their characters were good, and both showed a great sense of comic timing in both their delivery and their movement.

There was excellent support from the other Jocks Troy from Jack Roberts playing Chad Danforth - Troy`s best friend and Wingman, Philip Crayston as Zeke Baylor the basketballing baker (whose delivery was never half baked) and Ted Cubiss as Jason. Shout out to Isaac Oakes, linking the scenes and adding an extra dash of cool to the proceedings as Jack Scott, the Radio Announcer. Equal in their support for Gabriella were the Brainiacs, including Taylor McKessie, Martha Cox, Kratnoff - played well by Mathilda Kenny, Martha Callaghan and Molly Parsons.

Of course, you can never have a high school feature without the teachers who supported the rest of the cast well. Mr Tenny- played in his own inimitable way by Ben Sibbet, the dour Coach Bolton (and Troy`s dad) played by Alfie Biggins, and last, but by no means least, Ms Darbus played by Grace Callaghan. Grace`s Ms Darbus for me stole the show - managing to eke out every ounce of eccentricity, passion and wackiness without ever threatening to overplay it too much. She had the audience in the palm of her hand and knew it, but never pushed for that extra laugh, keeping it within the boundaries of the character- even if on the odd occasion, her excitement and breathiness of the delivery sometimes left Grace pushing to get her sentences out, she managed it with poise.

The chorus played their parts well, whether thespians, Skater dudes, Freshers or Wildcat Cheerleaders their enthusiasm was infectious, without this, the show could really fall flat, but the production had this in spades.

The staging wasn`t overly complicated, but worked well within the confines of the stage area. The fixed set of tiered gymnasium seating with the occasional truck, chairs with lockers or noticeboards pushed on, depicting different areas within the school. The decoration of the lockers was inspired, but why an American High School would have posters on their noticeboard of productions happening over four thousand miles away, I`ll never know. The lighting and sound were good, and sympathetic to the pictures the director had tried to create.

It would be easy for me to say that the choreography was “simple and effective”- it was, but is much more than that. Getting that number of people to do exactly the same thing at exactly the same time is no mean feat, and must have taken time and patience. Add to that, musical numbers with basketballs- it could be a car crash- but it wasn’t. Well done to Choreographers Zak Phillips-Yates and Charlotte Cooper.

Ian Bird`s Musical Direction kept everyone onstage and in the orchestra in check, and although some people may think it to be “old hat”, kept the founders wishes by playing the National Anthem.

Once again, Paul Jones should be proud of what the company achieved with this production, managing to get the society to maintain their enthusiasm throughout the production, showing that they were indeed, all in it together.

Well done Walney Juniors, thank you for your hospitality - can`t wait to see Half a Sixpence

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