This 'High School' Targets the Younger Set

"Disney's High School Musical"

Book by David Simpatico; original songs by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil; Ray Cham, Greg Cham and Andrew Seeley; Randy Petersen and Kevin Quinn; Andy Dodd and Adam Watts; Bryan Louiselle; David N. Lawrence and Faye Greenberg; Jamie Houston; music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle; based on a Disney Channel Original Movie written by Peter Barsocchini; scenic design by Dex Edwards; costume design by Wad LaBoissonniere; lighting design by Jack Mehler; sound design by John A. Stone; wig and hair design by Gerard Kelly; musical direction by Stephen Purdy; directed and choreographed by Barry Ivan

Featured cast:

Troy Bolton, David Nathan Perlow
Gabriella Montez, Addi McDaniel
Sharpay Evans, Kate Rockwell
Ryan Evans, Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Chad Danforth, Matthew S. Morgan
Taylor McKessie, Tallia Brinson
Martha Cox, Bridie Carroll
Jack Scott, Michael Kadin Craig
Kelsi Nelson, Jihyen Park
Ms. Darbus, Nancy Johnston
Coach Bolton, Fred Inkley

Performances: Now through July 29 at North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly, Mass.
Box Office: 978-232-7200 or www.nsmt.org

Attention anyone over the age of 14. You may want to inject some insulin before heading out to the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts because its current production of the tween phenomenon "Disney's High School Musical" is relentlessly sticky sweet. This squeaky clean pop version of teen peer pressure and identity angst is as light as a Bazooka gum bubble and as thin as Paris Hilton's DUI defense, but it has broken all box office records at the venerable 53-year-old theater in the round.

With stereotypical jocks, brains, cheerleaders, and theater geeks straight out of "Saved by the Bell," a storyline that comes across as a sanitized version of "Grease," a basketball production number reminiscent of "Michael Jordan's Ball," and a villainous Valley Girl  who talks and acts like a "Heathers" wannabe, this formulaic Disney musical offers absolutely nothing new. What it does have going for it, however, is a very talented cast of young singers, dancers and actors whose contagious enthusiasm and natural energy could very easily put Red Bull out of business.

"High School Musical" follows the trials and tribulations of math wiz and school newbie Gabriella Montez (the winning and winsome Addi McDaniel) and college bound basketball hero Troy Bolton (a rugged yet sensitive David Nathan Perlow) who meet and fall in love while singing (gasp) Karaoke during winter vacation. Now back on campus, they both feel compelled to stifle their desires to audition for the school musical – she because of taunts from the obnoxious perennial starlet Sharpay Evans ("You're the One That I Want" alum Kate Rockwell), and he for fear of letting his friends and family down on the eve of the Big Game. It doesn't take a psychic to know how things are going to turn out in this candy coated "be true to yourself" morality tale, but there are worse things than having a company of kids from all walks of life singing "We're All in This Together" as the show comes to its uplifting and hand-clapping conclusion.

The musical numbers are, of course, the strong suit in this production. Played with brio by a seven-piece band and choreographed imaginatively by director Barry Ivan, they all capture the exuberance of teens bursting to express who they are and make something of themselves in a world that is often beyond their control. They are all also very, very well executed. The entire ensemble, including incredibly limber female cheerleaders and very athletic and muscular young men, fill the small circular stage with precise but highly animated movements. Their polish belies their age at every turn.

Individual performances are also uniformly strong and appealing. As Gabriella, Addi McDaniel has a gorgeous, smooth voice that is a refreshing change of pace from the typical rough-around-the-edges pop/rock sound. She is also sweet and vulnerable without being cloying. David Nathan Perlow as Troy is just the right combination of masculine team leader and supportive boyfriend torn between living up to the expectations others have for him and following his own less stereotypical dream. He is also a fine, powerful singer who pairs nicely with McDaniel in several pleasant if nondescript duets.

The only adults in the cast are Nancy Johnston as the eccentric but dedicated drama teacher Ms. Darbus and Fred Inkley as Troy's father and drill instructor, Coach Bolton. Both manage to walk the line between cartoon villain and real person very nicely.

Comic shtick is provided by the viperous Rockwell as Sharpay and the too cool for school Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Ryan, her younger brother by six minutes. While Keenan-Bolger is delightful as the beleaguered tagalong and dutiful gofer, unfortunately his character has been written as the stereotypical over-gesticulating drama queen whose only purpose is to get cheap laughs. Could we at least have his sexual orientation explored in song and allow him to hook up with his soul mate at the end, just like the rest of the principals do? If basketball players can find love in the arms of science fair geniuses, why can't a petite theater-loving gay guy end up with a tall, handsome free-throwing forward or center?

Of course, this is "Disney's High School Musical," not "Spring Awakening." So check your depth meters at the door. Do bring your children, however. This is a great introduction to live performance for a generation weaned on iPods and X-Boxes.

PHOTOS:

David Nathan Perlow and Addi McDaniel
Addi McDaniel, David Nathan Perlow and Ensemble
Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Rockwell

Photos courtesy of Paul Lyden

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