High School Musical On Stage

This busy, buoyant musical showcased what the LAMP's CT can do. The cast of 45 were all well rehearsed in word, movement and dance, never missing a beat. The story traced the budding love of two high school students who met on a skiing holiday and again at school. New pupil and science wizard Gabriella, played by Libby Hardie, and basketball mad Troy, played by Joseph Gall, bumped into each other and had their loyalties torn as the cliques in school tried to hold onto them and influence their actions. Both demonstrated how they get caught up. The sweet voice of Gabriella matched the deeper tones of Troy as they delivered precisely and clearly in Start of Something New engaging the audience in their search to further their relationship without being pigeonholed. Later they delighted with I can’t Take My Eyes Off of You and When There Was Me and You. Gabriella was certain she wanted something new and Troy brought out the conflicted adolescent. A telling scene was one with Troy and his basketball-driven teacher father played well by Jack Wallace. The drama class queen and selfish Sharpay was brought to life by Izzy Holmes who in her eagerness to get the leading role fixed the audition times. Portraying her sidekick Ryan as less sure of her methods and more placatory was Dane Brown. They reacted well to each other especially in their polished song and dance audition subtly missing out the emotional rapport that Troy and Gabriella brought to theirs and which secured the part for them. Well done to all four in accomplishing this. The leader of the science group Taylor, Cailleigh Gordon, and Troy’s basketball chum Chad, Euan Campbell, were confident in their roles as were Emily Calabrese as Jill who kept the whole show linked with her engaging and newsy announcements and role as Cheerleader, and Maisie Pandian as Kelsi the slightly bohemian yet put upon writer of the Juliet and Romeo script. As Ms Darbus the drama teacher, Elizabeth Lozinski caught the passion for her subject as well as the frustration with the importance that seems to attach itself to sport.. All roles of pupils were well characterised especially Millie Crawford as Zeke and Caitlin McCusker as Martha. The enjoyable singing and fast movement in company numbers came across in the likes of The Wildcat Cheer, Stick To The Status Quo, and We’re All in This Together. The single set with a raised section and use of the sides worked well. The costumes were typical of the times and the colourful dancing cheerleaders in red and white stood out. This was a feel good factor show as teachers reconciled, as the cliques conspired to make sure their classmates could get to the auditions as Sharpay acknowledged her wrong and of course as Gabriella and Troy came together. A successful production for all and one to make production officials and parents proud.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.