HIgh School Musical JE

I always enjoy watching youth groups perform and Young Expessions always deliver.  The company has lost a lot its older performers but it’s nice to see the younger ones developing their skills and improving.

James Ravenscroft (Troy) and Rose Whitwam (Gabriella) were both good.  They made a nice pairing and performed well.  Ella Fowle (Sharpay) was good, with just the right amount of arrogance. Jorji Mersey played her sidekick Ryan and he got the character just right.   Peter Angeli (Chad) and George Knight (Zeke) were excellent, George, in particular, is a joy to watch as he lives every moment of the script.  Elena Noguchi was very good as Ms Darbus, suitably histrionic.  Grant Clark (Coach Bolton) and Lexie Foley (Ms Tenny) both gave convincing performances.

Unfortunately, I cannot mention everyone by name but all the cast did well.  I would like to have seen a bit more energy from the cheerleaders.  Some of them were fine, but others need to remember that, at their job (as cheerleaders) is to motivate the team so more energy is vital.

The scenery was right for the show and the costumes were fine.  I would, however, comment on the use of shiny makeup.  Given that they were supposed to be school girls I felt this was unnecessary.  Perhaps for Sharpay, although I don’t think it worked as the shiny, glitter, effect did not work well under stage lighting.  Also, I have commented before about performers constantly pushing their hair back, off their face, because it was not secured, off their face.  Rose did this constantly and it became a focus of my attention which it should not!

Overall, though, a good show which the audience and the cast clearly enjoyed.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.