High School Musical - August 2007 - Wiltshire Times Review

SETTLING into the jam-packed Civic Hall on Friday night I have to admit I was slightly nervous, having been involved with preparations for High School Musical.

I wasn't sure what would greet me, but five minutes in I was captured, and whisked away to a new term at East High School.

High School Musical is, in basic terms, the classic musical Grease albeit restyled for the noughties.

The lively bunch of teenagers taking part in last week's production come from across west Wiltshire and the surrounding areas, some of whom are vastly experienced and others have never sung a note, spoken a line, danced or set foot inside a theatre.

Each and every one of the lead characters shone in their own way in the ensemble production.

David Smith played school heart-throb and basketball captain Troy Bolton, alongside Roberta Partington as new student and maths whizz Gabriella Montez. David had a great stage presence as he led the basketball team while becoming increasingly keen on singing, under his dad Coach Boulton's watchful eye (played by Nick Gobby), and Roberta's clear voice was beautiful in the pair's duets.

Their best friends Chad Danforth and Taylor McKessie (Leigh Walker and Kara Horler) ably led the plot to split up Troy and Gabriella, and the ones to bring them back together, with fine characterisation and leadership.

Working alongside the scheming pair were basketball playing wannabe chef Zeke Baylor and hip-hopping Brainiac Martha Cox (Ashley Holman and Eleanor Jones), each one desperate to admit to their friends their secret interests that go against the status quo.

And their efforts provided a definite showstopping number, as chaos broke out in the cafeteria after their admissions. Another musical highlight was the energetic closing number of We're All In This Together.

School stars Sharpay and Ryan Evans (Leonie Harrison and Joe Lucas) gave great doses of comedic relief - Joe's timing was impeccable and Leonie's diva portrayal of Sharpay had to be laughed at.

Other principals who deserve a mention were school DJ Jack Scott, drama teacher Ms Darbus and school musical author Kelsi Neilson, played by Leo Springate, Lizzy Lomax and Jenny Davy.

Direction by Wendy Kiddell was tight and kept the plot moving at a speedy pace, while Phil Springate's musical direction allowed some tricky harmonies to flourish.

But what made this production so special was the range of talent, energy and enthusiasm on display from the oldest through to the youngest member, who have all learnt a great deal about the business that is show, in a very short period of time.

As a debut outing for TYT, the new youth branch of Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society, it could hardly have been better.