Pop hit on stage for first time
When the High School Musical franchise first erupted in 2006, Disney detained willing captives for a number of years.
In 2007, the film was made into a stage show and a decade on, Musikmakers have performed it for the first time in Hamilton.
Running until May 19 at Riverlea Theatre, the show contains all of the songs die-hard fans would be itching to sing along to, but that doesn’t mean those unfamiliar with the franchise won’t have anything to entertain them.
While some scenes lacked a bit of spark, Get’cha Head In The Game and Bop to the Top provided the high voltage which made High School Musical so popular.
Get’cha Head In The Game was performed by basketball playmaker Troy Bolton (Wintec student Zachary Clarke), surrounded by fellow jocks donning Wildcat red.
The song was one of, if not the most, fast-paced in the show and Clarke’s voice was impressively steady. There were great performances in the male ensemble also, consisting of Connor Zampese, Daniel Cruickshank and Paris Eyeington.
Hamilton Girls’ High School student Hayley Monaghan, in her Riverlea Theatre debut, portrayed Troy’s demure love interest Gabriella Montez.
Monaghan had been ambushed by a crafty and unfortunately-timed winters cold which left her unable to reach certain notes, but she was still one of the most credible characters on stage.
However, the coupling with blaring emotion was brothersister duo Sharpay and Ryan Evans. Captured by Mimi Boister and Jonathan Hawthorn, the love-to-hate-them pair warmed to their prickly personas the longer their presence was on stage.
Bop to the Top rolled three scenes into one, but spearheading it all was Boister and Hawthorn in their delightfully hilarious costumes assembled by Helena Jennings.
- Reviewed by Kelley Tantau. Read more at Stuff.co.nz