The story is sort of a Disney-fied version of Grease. Popular high school jock Troy Bolton meets shy brainiac girl Gabriella Montez when they are forced to do a karaoke duet while on vacation, then he gets surprised when she ends up going to his high school. Peer pressure on both of them to stick to their respective cliques threatens to erase their romance unless they find the courage to rise above it. The one thing that may give them an opportunity to stay connected is singing some more tunes together in the upcoming high school musical. But that isn’t going to go over too well with their classmates – especially the prima donna Sharpay Evans, lead actress in every musical since kindergarten, who wants to break the two up so she can stay the star of the school (and because she wants Troy for herself).

Michael Dashefsky looks and seems like the consummate nice guy as Troy Bolton. No wonder Gabriella isn’t too concerned when Sharpay tries to convince her that Troy likes to run over kittens with lawnmowers. Arianna Afsar makes an impressive return to the stage as a sweet, funny Gabriella whose moods come through strongly whether it’s the sadness of heartbreak or her natural glow when happy. Both have good vocals, making for several great duets.

Not nearly as sweet and nice as Gabriella and Troy is Sharpay Evans. Adriana Yedidsion is an intimidating diva given to shouting out orders, sometimes daring the audience to oppose her (but we are all too afraid to do so). Ryan Luster is her eight-minute-younger twin brother living in her shadow but starting to emerge. They combine for some fun auditions in What I’ve Been Looking For and Bop to the Top, and they both squeal with excitement over big announcements from the school’s drama teacher about the upcoming high school musical – a variation of Romeo and Juliet that allows the tragic couple to enjoy a happy ending set in Albuquerque.

Speaking of the drama teacher, Megan Evans is the flamboyant, melodramatic drama instructor who uses voice and body language to great effect, and is not above using a prop sword to make a point with anyone who dares blaspheme the hallowed halls of her theatre program – like Troy’s father Coach Bolton (Patrick Kelly). Elsewhere, Matt Maretz transforms himself completely into the charismatic, nerdy “Velvet Fog of East High” radio announcer Jack Scott whose class-clown humor does not amuse the teachers, Casey Jaquez is an ultra-shy and initially timid playwright/composer Kelsi Neilson, Danielle Levin is Gabriella’s saucy brainiac friend Taylor McKessie, Trevor Bowles is Troy’s basketball-obsessed best friend Chad Danforth, and Ryan Tirman is Troy’s baking-obsessed friend Zeke who is beside himself when his cooking finally pays off. The basketball players combine with Troy for a good rendition of Get Your Head in the Game that mixes basketball-dribbling rap with a romantic chorus, while the whole ensemble of cheerleaders, thespians, jocks, and brainiacs combine for the peer-pressure backlash Stick to the Status Quo and an exhilarating We’re All in This Together – the reprise of which becomes the show’s big, flashy, splashy, confetti-flying finale.

Performed October 18-28, 2007.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

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