'High School Musical' at Winters Lane: Go Wildcats!

◊◊◊◊ out of five.  Family friendly.  1 hour, 45 minutes, plus intermission. 

When I learned that Disney's High School Musical was graduating from the small screen to the theatre stage, I figured I'd better get with the program and see what all the fuss was about.  So, I got the DVD, and got myself acquainted with the students and faculty of East High School.  With its infectious score and a cast of America's prettiest teens (I swear Disney has a factory) I could instantly see the appeal to its target audience - the tweens, mostly girls, though I'm sure there are plenty of guys who have snuck a peek or two.  I'll admit I've watched it more than once straight through, and it turns out that it's a good thing that I did.  This past weekend, I had the pleasure of sitting in a theatre with a couple hundred kids and their parents as we watched live on stage what before was only on TV.  That first production (for me at least) was given by Winters Lane Productions at CCBC's Theatre Q.  And it speaks volumes for the overall quality of the production that from start to finish, the audience was well-behaved and completely enraptured. 

The translation from stage to screen has been relatively painless.  The story remains the same (you've seen it, I won't waste time rehashing it), including some clunky dialogue, obvious stereotypes and corny, wholesome family values that old Walt would be thrilled with.  Still, the sincerity, warmth and insistent multicultural attitude of the piece make it engaging and a whole lot of fun.  That high school kids form cliques is timeless and true.  That each group is full of kids from all over the globe and no one notices, mentions it or even points to it says a whole lot has happened for the good in the days since West Side Story.  There was a time, not so long ago that interracial relationships, let alone contact and (gasp!) kissing would have had picket lines surround the theatre.  How far we've come! 

All of your kids' favorites are here and apparently recognizable to the little ones, though none of the actors playing the parts here look like their filmed counterparts.  And all of the catchy tunes are here and sound terrific (with musical direction by the always first-rate Tiffany Underwood).  Even the dances - the key ones, anyway - look enough like the original to keep "purists" happy.  Director/choreographer Jason Kimmel has done a terrific job making non-dancers look comfortable and very good.  In fact, for the most part, he has done an excellent job fitting his large cast onto a large set with spaces that range from cavernous to thimble size.  No small fete, considering that many of these talented kids are making a debut of one kind or another. 

What is different about this stage version has nothing to do with this production specifically.  After all, Winters Lane has to do the script they are given.  Some of the changes work - detention becomes a drama class exercise, showing the audience that drama class can be as fun as the action on a basketball court.  And a new character, Jack Scott, the nerdy school announcement guy has been added to give us the feel of real high school while the scenery is being changed.  Played here by the endlessly charming Chase Hiller, this change really works.  The kid is a hoot!  Others changes don't work as well - the relationship between Troy and his Coach/Father has been reduced to Dad calling son "Bolton" until son finally yells, "My name is TROY, Dad!"  And that's pretty much it.  In this case it is really too bad because Coach Bolton is being played by Brian Jacobs, a BJ Surhoff doppelganger if there ever was one, who manages in very few lines and scenes to create an interesting character.  I wish he had more to do, especially with his son, played by Chris Rudy.  The two together create a wonderful father-son vibe without even trying.  The impetus that gets Troy to meet Gabriella in the first place - a winter break karaoke contest - is played like a memory, and is mentioned in exactly two lines.  Here was the only time I thought to myself that I was glad I had seen the movie to understand it.  Lastly, the much touted "two songs not in the movie" stick out like a sore thumb for their lack of pep and quality.  Again, this is not a fault of this production. 

As young as the entire company looks, I was surprised to find that many of them are actually in college!  Nearly thirty in number, the cast is huge, and to each members' credit, even the "background ensemble" actors have each created distinct characters.  Among them, Cory Jones is a standout during the detention/drama class scene where the students are acting like various animals.  Mr. Jones has become a worm, and hilariously crawls across the entire stage.  I laughed until I had tears!  And the four cheerleaders (Gabi Levin, Casey Marriman, Michelle Sauers and Morgan Wright) executed their routines wonderfully.   

Brian Jacobs and Cheryl Vourvoulas (as Ms. Darbus, drama queen/director) do fine work as the lone adults in the show.  Both choose their moments well, and add to rather than detract from the focus of the show, the students.  Mr. Jacobs, as I mentioned earlier is at his best in scenes, brief as they are, with his "son."  Ms. Vourvoulas does just the right amount of scenery chewing and is quite funny.  Her first costume (designed by Mark Briner) resembles the wicked queen in Snow White, and she plays the villain to the hilt! 

The more featured student roles are played with varying success.  Both Alicia L. Davis (as brainiac Taylor) and Vincent Lidie (as jock Chad Danforth) look the part, and act them decently, though both seemed to struggle with pitch and volume on opening night.  Joanna Chilcoat, a recent UM graduate, looks her age rather than a high school diva, though she does play the witchier qualities of Sharpay with a gleam in her eye.  With movie credits and an extensive list of stage credits, one wonders why her gifts weren't put to better use.  Much better is Jesse Carrey-Beaver, who plays her brother, Ryan.  This guy can DANCE, and thankfully, manages to keep the character away from some rather tasteless stereotypes.  Too bad that when HSM2 comes to the stage, that he'll be too old to play Ryan, he'd steal the show for sure.  He and Miss Chilcoat are a much more interesting presence in act two. 

Of all of the supporting characters, though, Renee Rogers does absolutely astonishing work in the role of Kelsi, the girl who wrote the musical.  When she is on stage, she is the consummate professional, giving and taking with her fellow cast members with an ease and grace most adult actors wished they could.  She has a few opportunities to shine, and makes the most of them.  In a scene where she gets told off by the snooty Sharpay, her reactions and physical comedy after Sharpay's exit earned Ms. Rogers a warm round of much deserved applause.  This young lady has quite a future on the stage. 

The stars of the evening, Chris Rudy as Troy Bolton and Jennie Marie Beck as Gabriella, really have earned their lead roles.  Neither does a carbon copy of the film, both have terrific voices and when they sing in harmony, it is thrilling.  Both, quite simply, exude a star quality that directors long to work with and casting agents drool after.  Mr. Rudy at first glance may not seem like the obvious choice for "Big Man on Campus", especially as a star basketball player.  He is a bit on the small side.  BUT this young actor fairly drips with charisma, confidence and sincerity.  When he is on, all eyes are on him.  He sings like a bird, dances like a pro and can handle a ball with skill.  He is clearly enjoying his role, especially in the infectious "Get'cha Head in the Game" where he and the equally talented team dance, dribble and toss balls around with precision and style.  Miss Beck, a recent graduate of Towson University, is a warm, sweet (but not sickeningly so) Gabriella.  She, like Mr. Rudy, has a confidence and sincerity that makes the part full and interesting.  And what a singer!  When they finally, inevitably get together at the end, it is almost a relief when they sweetly kiss each other.  Congratulations to both of these fine young actors. 

Mr. Kimmel's direction, especially in most of the group scenes is sharp, and well-planned.  It is a testimony to his talent that he gets so much out of such a huge and varied (in terms of experience) cast.  One wishes he would have kept the lights up or at least dim during scene changes so the audience, full of many first times I'm sure, can see all of the magic of live theatre.  And he might perhaps consider the focus of a couple of scenes, where the background antics of the cast (the hilarious worm and Kelsi's silent "fight" described above) detract from the other scenes going on.  In both cases, the actors doing the fun stuff - and exceptionally well - were doing so while other important dialogue was going on.  But, by and large, Mr. Kimmel deserves much kudos for reining in the talents of his company and accentuating their individual abilities while being mindful of their limitations.

Finally, anyone out there with some money - grants, donation, whatever - PLEASE buy this extremely gifted theatre company a decent sound system!  Much to their credit, every single cast member did their best to compensate for mics that went on an off at will, sound that came out of one speaker, and all of which sounded like they were singing through foam rubber.

Sound issues aside, Winters Lane has given us a High School Musical to be proud of.  Let's hope that these talented folks go on to long, engaging stage careers, and that all of the little ones in the audience, clearly enthralled, beg mom and dad to take them to the theatre more often! 

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Winters Lane Productions.  TOP to BOTTOM: The Cast of Disney's High School Musical; Ms. Darbus and Coach Bolton; Rehearsing the Show: Troy, Kelsi, Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan; Renee Rogers, Vincent Lidie, Alicia L. Davis, Rickey Stakem, Jennie Marie Back, Chris Rudy, Jesse Carrey-Beaver and Joanna Chilcoat; Troy and Gabriella.

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