Review: Disney High School Musical, Flying Ducks Youth Theatre at Josesh Rowntree Theatre

8:44am Friday 14th March 2008

THE screaming pom-pom waving children who filled York's Joseph Rowntree Theatre on Wednesday evening loved every minute of Disney's High School Musical.

It was the first amateur production of the show to be performed in York, and Flying Ducks Youth Theatre did it proud.

What began as a TV movie has grown quickly into an international phenomenon for young people and this stage adaptation went down a treat with the audience.

It's a tale about daring to stand out from the crowd. New girl Gabriella (Amy Hargreaves) enrols at East High School having previously met Troy (Sam Whyte) on holiday. The two of them slowly embark on an unlikely romance but relations are strained because he is a basketball-playing jock and she is a science geek.

Defying their stereotypes, they both audition for the high school musical Juliet and Romeo' - but come up against opposition from their respective cliques'.

The bare bones of the plot bear a striking resemblance to 70s classic Grease, but this is a thoroughly modern adaptation.

In Grease, the lovebirds' happy union was only made possible when the good girl, Sandy, ditched her principles (and ponytail) to fit in with Danny's leather-clad gang. But in High School Musical, neither the studious Gabriella nor the jock Troy is forced to abandon who they are.

The young cast did a decent job with the American-accented vocals, and the show's catchy musical numbers and energetic dancing went down a treat with the audience.

Vocally, the performances fell slightly short, but this didn't bother the over-excited children who packed the theatre.

The standout performer was Gracie Whittington, who plays the conniving drama diva Sharpay Evans. She gives a brilliant bitchy edge to Sharpay and belts and bops her way through the duet with her side-kick Ryan (Rob Joyce) - bringing the stage to life.

Eccentric drama teacher Ms Darbus (Samantha Massey) also gave a compelling performance and her confrontations with basketball coach Boulton (Joe Gibb) earned several laughs.

High School Musical runs until tomorrow, but with tickets sold out long ago, you will be lucky if there are any returns. The box office number is 01904 768963.

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