Review: DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Cast Keeps Its Head in the Game in Order to Bob to the Top

DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ON STAGE!: This HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL cast keeps its head in the game in order to bob to the top.

Wilmington Drama League's choice for its 2016-17 season opener nicely reflects one of the company's greatest hallmarks - talented young, energetic artists. Face it, if you don't have teen performers who can bring everything they've got to a production and be totally comfortable leaving it all on stage, then don't do HSM.

Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ON STAGE! centers on the blossoming relationship between Troy, a high school jock, and Gabriella, the new smart girl at school. Their surprise decision to audition together for the school show are thwarted by their friends and the school's current leading lady, Sharpay. Finally, Gabriella and Troy find a way to be themselves and are rewarded with the lead roles in the school show. The basic themes in HSM are of friendship, first love, and acceptance.

It's the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes met up in their respective cliques to share vacation stories. In homeroom, basketball team captain Troy (Felipe Rocha) discovers that Gabriella (Gaea Lawton), a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, just enrolled at East High. Between classes, Gabriella and Troy look at the audition sign-up for the school musical, but the drama diva Sharpay (Evelyn Schiavone) discourages them. At basketball practice, Troy tries to shake his desire to sing at the urging of his best friend Chad (Keelin Reilly). Taylor (Becky Rusch), the science club president, discovers Gabriella's intelligence and encourages her to join the upcoming science decathlon.

The next day, hopeful Thespians strut their stuff for Ms. Darbus (Kathy Harris) but they're no match for Sharpay and her twin brother Ryan (Michael Mann). Troy and Gabriella arrive too late to audition, but Kelsi (Talia Speak), the show's composer, plays the song her way and encourages them to sing. Ms. Darbus overhears and gives them a callback. Upon learning this, Sharpay becomes furious while the Jocks and Brainiacs devise a plan to trick Troy and Gabriella into forgetting about the musical and committing to their respective competitions. Thinking each one has betrayed the other, Gabriella and Troy are crushed. Sharpay convinces Ms. Darbus to move callbacks to conflict with the science decathlon and championship game. Chad and Taylor put their heads together to make things right again. The East High students rally behind Troy and Gabriella and each other because, after all, they're all in this together.

HSM is noted as being the 2006 American teen romantic comedy musical that made Zak Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, and Corbin Bleu common household names. Very few parents, especially of teenage girls, could get through the day without hearing the adolescent belting of a HSM song, or the latest dish on Zak, or searching to find where to buy clothes worn by Vanessa. In its heyday, the HSM phenomenon resembled the teary-eyed frenzy of the Beatles. Today, not so much. Many of the younger set have no idea that HSM ever existed, and for good reason. The songs aren't that memorable. The message, although admirable, is written in such a "Leave It To Beaver" manner that I'm not quite sure it resonates as being realistic.

HSM has a few unique needs. Making any film into a stage production is a tricky endeavor given the need for live set changes to cover multiple locations that film can seamlessly traverse. WDL does a decent job with the location shifts but some set changes are clunky which allow audience members to drift away from the moment. Also, HSM needs quadruple threats - meaning individuals who are triple threats (acting, singing, dancing) that are athletic. The need to be able to maneuver a basketball is a real need if you're cast as a Jock. But, if you're looking at overall delivery, then the WDL cast hits the mark. The young performers are fully dedicated to the production and give it their all. The 32 member ensemble fills the stage with energy (courtesy of Stage Director Kathy Buterbaugh), above-average vocals (courtesy of Music Director Caty Butler) and interesting dance routines (courtesy of Dominic Santos) for a pleasant evening of age-appropriate theater.

Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ON STAGE!
Book by David Simpatico
Original Songs by Matthew Gerrard & Robbie Nevil; Ray Cham, Greg Cham & AnDrew Seeley; Randy Petersen & Kevin Quinn; Andy Dodd & Adam Watts; Bryant Louiselle; David N. Lawrence & Faye Greenberg; Jamie Houston
Based on a Disney Channel Original Movie by Peter Barsocchini

Wilmington Drama League
10 W. Lea Boulevard
Wilmington, DE 19802
(302) 764-1172
www.wilmingtondramaleague.org
Runs Sept 9 thru Sept 25

Photos courtesy of MJ Mac Photography

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