High School Musical On Stage!

It’s always great to see a new theatre group, so I was very pleased to be able to deputise for my fellow NODA representative Bruce Wyatt, as Lollipop Theatre’s High School Musical On Stage hit the Norbury Theatre with a bang!  The very large cast of young performers were full of energy and commitment, as they brought this entertaining take on Romeo and Juliet to life. 

The show follows the boy-meets-girl story of a pair of American high-school juniors – basketball star Troy Bolton and academic geek Gabriella Montez.  Each has their surrogate family – the Jocks and the Brainiacs – who vie for their attention.  When drama teacher Mrs Darbus begins casting for a musical version of – you guessed it – Romeo and Juliet, the pair begin a tender romance.  But their involvement in their High School musical throws them into conflict with not only their school ‘families’ but also entitled drama diva and Club President Sharpay Evans and her brother Ryan.  Needless to say the path of true love doesn’t run smooth, but eventually their friends make it possible for our heroes to triumph in sport, science and theatre. 

Daniel Bessant and Annie A had a charming chemistry as Troy and Gabriella, with their songs together being a particular highlight, showing off nice singing voices and a good connection to the material.  Jemima Ricketts was suitably dismissive as self-centred mean girl Sharpay, always bossing around Seb Taylor’s downtrodden Ryan.  Leading the Brainiac and Jock factions respectively were Anjali Wharam as Taylor and Elliott Fitzhugh as Chad, who both gave most effective performances, as they each sought to monopolise the attention of our heroes.  Their final collaboration to save the day was very well done.

There was a great turn by Amelie Reeves as the hippy-dippy drama teacher Mrs Darbus – at one minute flouncing about artfully, the next castigating her charges for arriving seconds too late.  Eva Huxley was absolutely convincing as the composer and pianist Kelsi Neilson, in a very natural performance.  Arlo Williams also caught the eye as Coach Bolton (father of Troy), showing a well-acted transformation as he finally realises that his son is his own person.  Mention must also be made of Owen Skyvington’s Jack Scott, whose comic interjections as the school’s resident news announcer never failed to raise a laugh.

I could go on – every member of the 92-strong cast made an impression in their own way, singing, dancing and acting their way through the show with gusto.  Well done to them all.  It was fun to try to spot the lead performers of the future amongst the chorus! Well done too to director Holly Fields and choreographer Ellen Fearnley, who performed a minor miracle in not only getting all those performers organised on stage, but also clearly focused and concentrated on delivering their best. 

Musical director Ben Thompson led a seven piece band impeccably, and the efforts of vocal coach Becky Fearnley were clear to see in the solo performances in particular.  There were a few sound issues from time to time, but these didn’t detract from the overall impact of the show.  The set piece numbers were also very effective, in particular the Act 1 closer ‘Stick to the Status Quo’ and finale ‘We’re All in This Together’ – an ebullient celebration not only of the climax to the story but also the ethos of this very inclusive Theatre Group.

The show was played out in front of a neatly constructed set showing the halls of East High School, which was effectively transformed into classrooms, a basketball court and a music room by the use of furniture and the odd additional backdrop.  It was no mean feat cramming these three locations together at the climax to the show!  The set changes were very smoothly achieved – credit to the backstage team and cast members who delivered them. 

Lighting was well done – there was a particularly nice effect during one of the songs as members of the cast moved across the stage with hand held torches like colourful fireflies.  I also liked the costumes – particularly as we approached the finale with every member of the cast decked out in East High red and white – a formidable achievement! 

My thanks to all at Lollipop for the fabulously warm welcome and for entertaining us so well, with a joyous performance that sent the sold-out audience home happy.  Congratulations to you all and all the best for your next venture – Disney’s Frozen Jr.

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