Disney’s High School Musical
Disney’s High School Musical
Book by David Simpatico
Directed and choreographed by Paul Becker
Starring Justin Sargent, Jodi Melendez, Rachel Potter, and Spencer Morrow
Gramercy Theater, Orlando FL</strong>
The big thing about High School is it seems so important at the time. Tonight East Side High is split by 3 competing forces – the Jocks are focused on the basketball championship while the Brainiacs study for the big science decathlon and the Thespians audition for that big post feminist adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet.” Oh, were life so simple today! Bleach blond prima donna Sharpay (Potter) believes she’s destined to lead the musical and get cute-as-a Webkinz captain team Troy Bolton (Sargent) in the deal, but a threat lurks on the horizon. Transfer student Gabriella (Melendez) keeps a low profile, but her smarts, athleticism, and Metropolitan opera class vocal chords means she’s likely to take over the school on pure talent. While Sharpay invokes all her evil hormone powers to ostracize Gabriella, it’s no use – Gabriella and Troy are too strong a duet to not get on stage, and even the high-power Studio 54 dance arrangement Sharpay’s brother Ryan (Morrow) arranges can’t beat them down. We learn the essential truth all Disney films espouse – dream your own dream, believe in yourself, and don’t let the Noogies, Swirlies, and Indian Burns keep you from following your heart. But we all have to work together as a team.
Sure, it’s a stock script, but “High School Musical” exudes fun and energy with something for the adult as well as the prepubescent. The songs are all in the modern Celine Dion show tune style, with “Get’cha Head in the Game” and “Breaking Free” sticking in my head the longest. Long on spectacle, we get up to 35 people dancing and doing flips on Doug Huston’s and Paul Horan’s cleverly design set. Paul Becker’s snappy choreography impressed and local and largely high school aged cast worked as a tight team. Sergeant, Melendez and Morrow gave touching performances, but I found Potter strident as the self appointed princess of the school. Perhaps that was just direction, but I never felt sorry for her. The supporting cast shined, particularly Zeke (Vincent Miller) as the Jock whose soul lies in the bakery, and Kelsi (Michelle Gonzales) as the Thespian who wrote the Musical within this Musical.
Half the audience was underage, and everyone of them were completely entranced, often laughing or applauding in-jokes that flew over my head. With the HSM logo plastered on half the stuff in the kids section of Target, this is clearly a mass market phenomenon. If you miss it, that means you’re over 30 and way too responsible.
For more information on Gramercy Theatre, please visit www.GramercyTheatreOrlando.com
