"High School Musical"

Gilly Archer Theatre, Bilborough College.

The musical is based on the 2006 Disney film of the same name, which also coincides with Bilborough College also being opened officially.

Troy Bolton tells his Jock friends, Chad Danforth and Zeke Baylor, about meeting Gabriella Montez on New Year's Eve during winter vacation on a ski trip. Gabriella, who has just moved to Albuquerque, also tells her newfound Brainiac friends Taylor McKessie, Kelsi Nielsen and Martha Cox of her vacation. A little like when Danny told his friends about Sandy, and vice versa in "Grease". We also meet Sharpay and Ryan Evans, the two drama stars of the school. Sharpay is selfish, with an overblown ego, and Ryan follows her orders but tries to be friends with everyone.

Mrs. Darbus tells her class of the upcoming winter musical, "Juliet and Romeo", a new version of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", written by Kelsi Nielsen, a shy East High student. The next day, thespians audition for the play as do Sharpay and Ryan. When the auditions have closed Tony and Gabriella sing the audition song the way that Kelsi had meant the song to be sung, as a ballad, and to their surprise are called back for a second audition. As you can imagine, Sharpay and Ryan are not happy about the rug being pulled from under them, so they hatch a plot to try and stop Tony and Gabriella from getting the lead roles of Juliet and Romeo.

Coach Bolton thinks that Gabriella is interfering with training for Troy, and that his head is not in the game and their respective groups also feel that the auditions will mess up both groups chance of success. Troy and Gabriella are being torn from all angles but do they listen to their friends or to their hearts?

So there are the Jocks, Troy Bolton, Chad Danforth and Zeke Baylor.

Troy is played by Samuel Onwuteaka, and he is a young man to look out for. He'll catch the eyes of the ladies, making him future leading man material when he gets older. Samuel has a really good soulful voice which blends well. He can also dance and when the finale comes you see him really start to get into the choreography and breaks free. There's also a really nice believable chemistry between the two lead roles.

Chad, played by Benjamin Case is also a really confident performer who looks as if he is enjoying his role as a jock.

Zeke is played by Noa Hart, and as Zeke, has a bit of a crush on Sharpay, and also has a secret passion for baking. Not that secret though as Zeke bakes a cake for Sharpay which does not quite go to plan. At the end of the show though Zeke seems to be winning Sharpay over.

Then there are the Thespians, Sharpay Evans, Ryan Evans and Kelsi Neilson.

Sharpay, who is the President of the Drama Club is played by Holly Chippendale. The Evans' are my favourite characters as they are full of, well character. Holly brought the sass to the show, and I can imagine that she rather enjoyed playing the dominant Evans twin as she got to boss Ryan around.

Ryan is played by Evan Fretwell, who I last saw playing Mr Mushnik in Copper Studios production of "Little Shop Of Horrors". Now just watching Evan perform you can see that he is a natural dancer. He is also a natural comedian and a really good visual comedian, as well as a wonderful character actor.

Kelsi is played by Angel Sherrard, and is another who looks comfortable on stage as a performer.

The Brainiacs are Gabriella Montez, Taylor McKessie and Martha Cox.

Gabriella is played by Bethan Moore, and like her surname, I was left wanting to see more of her talent, especially that voice of hers. It's sweet and tuneful and, as I mentioned earlier, blends very well with Samuel's. There is that natural chemistry between Troy and Gabriella, brought about by the lovely acting skills of both young actors.

Taylor McKessie, who is the President of the science club, is played by Ama Nicol/Nakiya Francis-White. A lovely, naturally soft young actor who I can see being useful in local theatre in a few years' time.

Martha Cox, who has a secret passion for hip hop music - I believe that Dr Brian Cox also shares the same passion, is played by Adara Gonzalez Pillay.

The Skater Dudes are Ripper, who we discover has a passion for the cello, and played by Esmee Khadimand. Mongo played by Lily Essex.

Jack Scott, the "Velvet Fog Of East High", is the news announcer and played by Teddy Smith

The Adult characters are Ms Darbus, who is the head of the drama department, who has a dislike for the Jocks and Coach Bolton. I really enjoyed the very mature performance by Holly Hughes, and even managed to look old enough to be a teacher. That is probably also due to the excellent costume for Ms Darbus as well as the wonderful hair and make up for this character.

Coach Bolton, who is head of the basketball team, and also Troy's father, is played by Asher Jenkin Jones. A solid, young actor who delivers with just the right tenacity.

Ms Tenny, the chemistry teacher is played by Anique Taylor.

The other students in this musical are played by Monet Pearson-Henry (Jason), Jazmine Lockwood, Shreya Rajappan Pillai, Alyssa Moore, Julia Sereda, Lorna Shepherd, Hope Sandhu, Lucy Fearn, Adara Gonzalez Pillai, Sophie Collis, Anique Taylor, Lily Essex and Esmee Khadim.

The Cheerleaders were Gabriella Beardsley, Laabiah Amjad, Lucy Fearn, Julia Sereda and Jessica Henley-Marshall. Every one of these ladies burst out with such energy and athleticism.

Anyone who knows the soundtrack will know that there are some very catchy songs here; "We're All In This Together", "Start Of Something New", "Breaking Free", "Head In The Game" and "Stick To The Status Quo" among them.

The Director always has the hardest job in my opinion because it's up to them to get everything right, and Tom Green, assisted by Jess Carter, got everything right on stage. It was full of energy, packed with fun and paced really well.

Production manager was Neve Saxton.

Musical Director was Jessica Lin, who fronted the seven piece band, and can I just give a virtual pat on the back to Will Robbins, who is going to be a drumming force to be reckoned with in the future. The whole band sounded excellent. My only issue though is that the band are situated at the back of the audience and can be at times just a little loud, not uncomfortably loud, but loud enough to drown the singing and the actor's delivery of their lines. This would have been resolved by the mics the actors wore having been executed timelier. The timing did get better as the musical progressed though.

I've touched on the choreography, which was suitably energetic, as well as fun to watch. Lara Pitt is responsible for this area of the production crew. I can tell by the choreography that Bilborough College have some very talented young dancers in their midst, and a fresh choreographer as well.

I'll also mention the costumes, which were great. Head of Costume was Holly Milsom, along with wardrobe assistants Clara Freestone and Emily Reynolds. Loved them all but especially loved those for Sharpay, Ryan and Ms Darbus.

Make-up and hair was by Alicia Bond.

A very tight production which highlighted a great deal of talent in all sections with several of these actors who, hopefully will go on to perform on more local stages, especially the male actors, as all local theatre groups are always crying out for male actors. I hope that they don't waste their talent by not continuing with the gifts that they have.

"High School Musical" is being performed at Bilborough College until Friday 16 December.