Review: 'High School' Is A Musical Worth Attending
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
And after sitting through Wagon Wheel Theatre's opening night production of "HSM" Wednesday, I doubt I will. The WWT version was the kind of high-energy fun - live on stage - that you just can't get sitting on the couch watching a DVD. Why go back and watch the movie version when I found myself entertained more than enough by the stage version?
While watching the musical Wednesday night, it was just as much fun watching the little children dance and clap and get excited during the show as it was watching the actors on stage. There was a 6-year-old celebrating her birthday Wednesday night, and all during the show, from across the room, you couldn't help but notice her having a fantastic time. That's when you know to just let go and enjoy yourself.
That's not to say the clichés, stereotypes and Disney "happily-ever-after" ending weren't over the top. They were. And students have a lot more to worry about today than cliques and auditions - i.e. school shootings, drugs, sex, etc. But with overall messages of "we're all in this together" and not "sticking to the status quo" in "HSM," the one-dimensional characters and storyline are forgivable. Plus, "HSM" just wants to entertain you.
Making it all come together, of course, was Artistic Director and choreographer Scott Michaels. After "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and now "HSM," he's two for two this year. He's found a way this season to make the shows high on energy and fun. The scenes are woven together like fine fabric, and he's chosen the right actors for each role.
I also think the performers are really earning their stripes this season, more so than some previous seasons. They appear to be putting their all in every moment they're on stage. After the show, if you take a moment and go through the zoo line, you can see how tired and sweaty they are from all their hard work.
There are many roles in "HSM." Two "supporting roles" that really caught my attention Wednesday were Taylor McKessie, played by Adrianna Parson, and Chad Danforth, played by Zachary McConnell.
Parson delivered her lines right on. Every time she uttered her dialogue, you knew who her character was and all about her personality.
My favorite line given by Parson came with a whole lot of attitude. When telling Sharpay Evans (Rachel MacIsaac) to go on her way, Taylor said, "Poof! You have no power here." The delivery and Parson's entire performance, for me, was one of the more memorable of the night.
Danforth stuck out to me more because he had the slickest dance moves of the night. He didn't miss a step and it looked as natural to him as anything. He didn't have any solo songs to belt, but he also can act, so it'll be interesting to see what he brings to the stage in the future.
"HSM" is a "modern" version of "Romeo & Juliet." Gabriella Montez (Mary Joe Duggan) and Troy Bolton (Jake Thomas Klinkhammer) met over winter break, only to run into each other at school when Montez's family moves to a new school district. (If this sounds familiar, it's because "HSM" originally was suppose to be "Grease 3.") Anyway, Gabriella finds that the school is deep into keeping the status quo and maintaining its cliques, which she doesn't understand. Then there's the school musical auditions, a league championship basketball game and parents and teachers who, to quote the Fresh Prince, just don't understand.
Got that?[[In-content Ad]]To keep it all from becoming one giant cheeseball, the actors playing the love interests must have actual chemistry on stage. Luckily for WWT attendees, Duggan and Klinkhammer have that fire between them. Where that fire burns most is when the pair sing together, especially "Start of Something New" and "What I've Been Looking For."
This may not be William Shakespeare's classic "Romeo & Juliet," or the unforgettable "West Side Story," but Duggan and Klinkhammer shine together in "High School Musical." I remember Duggan from 2008's "Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story," but thanks to her performance this week, I'll never forget her in "HSM." And I look forward to seeing what else Klinkhammer can bring to the stage in the future.
What's a story without some villains? While they aren't as conniving as the evil stepbrother-stepsister team from "Cruel Intentions," Sharpay and her twin brother Ryan Evans (David Glenwright) do make for some fun villains in the vein of, let's say, Dr. Evil from "Austin Powers." They're a bit over the top as far as stereotypes go, but audiences will eat them up because the actors do so well. Sharpay is the theater drama queen, and Ryan is her close, loyal follower brother.
I understand that, in the show, the twins always go for the top roles in the school's theatrical productions. But in "HSM," they're going for the top roles of Juliet and Romeo - lovers. This apparently doesn't faze the characters, even though they're siblings and are auditioning for roles of lovers. Of course, the character Kelsi Neilson (Erica Wilpon) did rewrite "Romeo & Juliet" to "Juliet & Romeo," so maybe she made other modifications. That never gets clearly addressed, but it just seemed like a big, glaring red light to me.
Speaking of Wilpon, she plays her music-writing show-writing character very effectively. While Wilpon can do graceful, she also shows she can do clumsy and bumbling, too.
Warsaw Community High School Assistant Principal Jennifer Shepherd is fun to watch playing drama teacher Ms. Darbus. Having had Shepherd years ago as a theater teacher, it was interesting to watch her do the thing she tried to teach me in high school. As Darbus, she keeps in character throughout the entire show and brings her to life.
Andy Robinson makes a good basketball coach and father to Troy as Coach Bolton. In those sweatpants and commanding voice, he could easily pass as a coach on the court. Luckily for theater lovers, he's on the stage.
Audiences also will enjoy when Darbus and Coach Bolton spar. Shepherd and Robinson really work well off each other.
To wrap it up, kudos to all the actors in "HSM," from the talented Brandon Springman as Zeke Baylor to every member of the ensemble. Great job on making me enjoy a show I wasn't too confident that I would find amusing. But I did.
Yet another reason to not judge a book by its cover. Or, in this case, to not judge a musical just because it's Disney.
My rating of the show (out of four): 3.5.
"HSM" is at the Wagon Wheel Theatre now through July 11.
Single adult tickets are $30 for all shows. Tickets for students 13 through college are $16, and children 12 and under are $12. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more.
To order tickets or for more information about upcoming events at the Wagon Wheel Theatre, call the box office today at 574-267-8041 or toll-free at 866-823-2618, or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
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And after sitting through Wagon Wheel Theatre's opening night production of "HSM" Wednesday, I doubt I will. The WWT version was the kind of high-energy fun - live on stage - that you just can't get sitting on the couch watching a DVD. Why go back and watch the movie version when I found myself entertained more than enough by the stage version?
While watching the musical Wednesday night, it was just as much fun watching the little children dance and clap and get excited during the show as it was watching the actors on stage. There was a 6-year-old celebrating her birthday Wednesday night, and all during the show, from across the room, you couldn't help but notice her having a fantastic time. That's when you know to just let go and enjoy yourself.
That's not to say the clichés, stereotypes and Disney "happily-ever-after" ending weren't over the top. They were. And students have a lot more to worry about today than cliques and auditions - i.e. school shootings, drugs, sex, etc. But with overall messages of "we're all in this together" and not "sticking to the status quo" in "HSM," the one-dimensional characters and storyline are forgivable. Plus, "HSM" just wants to entertain you.
Making it all come together, of course, was Artistic Director and choreographer Scott Michaels. After "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and now "HSM," he's two for two this year. He's found a way this season to make the shows high on energy and fun. The scenes are woven together like fine fabric, and he's chosen the right actors for each role.
I also think the performers are really earning their stripes this season, more so than some previous seasons. They appear to be putting their all in every moment they're on stage. After the show, if you take a moment and go through the zoo line, you can see how tired and sweaty they are from all their hard work.
There are many roles in "HSM." Two "supporting roles" that really caught my attention Wednesday were Taylor McKessie, played by Adrianna Parson, and Chad Danforth, played by Zachary McConnell.
Parson delivered her lines right on. Every time she uttered her dialogue, you knew who her character was and all about her personality.
My favorite line given by Parson came with a whole lot of attitude. When telling Sharpay Evans (Rachel MacIsaac) to go on her way, Taylor said, "Poof! You have no power here." The delivery and Parson's entire performance, for me, was one of the more memorable of the night.
Danforth stuck out to me more because he had the slickest dance moves of the night. He didn't miss a step and it looked as natural to him as anything. He didn't have any solo songs to belt, but he also can act, so it'll be interesting to see what he brings to the stage in the future.
"HSM" is a "modern" version of "Romeo & Juliet." Gabriella Montez (Mary Joe Duggan) and Troy Bolton (Jake Thomas Klinkhammer) met over winter break, only to run into each other at school when Montez's family moves to a new school district. (If this sounds familiar, it's because "HSM" originally was suppose to be "Grease 3.") Anyway, Gabriella finds that the school is deep into keeping the status quo and maintaining its cliques, which she doesn't understand. Then there's the school musical auditions, a league championship basketball game and parents and teachers who, to quote the Fresh Prince, just don't understand.
Got that?[[In-content Ad]]To keep it all from becoming one giant cheeseball, the actors playing the love interests must have actual chemistry on stage. Luckily for WWT attendees, Duggan and Klinkhammer have that fire between them. Where that fire burns most is when the pair sing together, especially "Start of Something New" and "What I've Been Looking For."
This may not be William Shakespeare's classic "Romeo & Juliet," or the unforgettable "West Side Story," but Duggan and Klinkhammer shine together in "High School Musical." I remember Duggan from 2008's "Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story," but thanks to her performance this week, I'll never forget her in "HSM." And I look forward to seeing what else Klinkhammer can bring to the stage in the future.
What's a story without some villains? While they aren't as conniving as the evil stepbrother-stepsister team from "Cruel Intentions," Sharpay and her twin brother Ryan Evans (David Glenwright) do make for some fun villains in the vein of, let's say, Dr. Evil from "Austin Powers." They're a bit over the top as far as stereotypes go, but audiences will eat them up because the actors do so well. Sharpay is the theater drama queen, and Ryan is her close, loyal follower brother.
I understand that, in the show, the twins always go for the top roles in the school's theatrical productions. But in "HSM," they're going for the top roles of Juliet and Romeo - lovers. This apparently doesn't faze the characters, even though they're siblings and are auditioning for roles of lovers. Of course, the character Kelsi Neilson (Erica Wilpon) did rewrite "Romeo & Juliet" to "Juliet & Romeo," so maybe she made other modifications. That never gets clearly addressed, but it just seemed like a big, glaring red light to me.
Speaking of Wilpon, she plays her music-writing show-writing character very effectively. While Wilpon can do graceful, she also shows she can do clumsy and bumbling, too.
Warsaw Community High School Assistant Principal Jennifer Shepherd is fun to watch playing drama teacher Ms. Darbus. Having had Shepherd years ago as a theater teacher, it was interesting to watch her do the thing she tried to teach me in high school. As Darbus, she keeps in character throughout the entire show and brings her to life.
Andy Robinson makes a good basketball coach and father to Troy as Coach Bolton. In those sweatpants and commanding voice, he could easily pass as a coach on the court. Luckily for theater lovers, he's on the stage.
Audiences also will enjoy when Darbus and Coach Bolton spar. Shepherd and Robinson really work well off each other.
To wrap it up, kudos to all the actors in "HSM," from the talented Brandon Springman as Zeke Baylor to every member of the ensemble. Great job on making me enjoy a show I wasn't too confident that I would find amusing. But I did.
Yet another reason to not judge a book by its cover. Or, in this case, to not judge a musical just because it's Disney.
My rating of the show (out of four): 3.5.
"HSM" is at the Wagon Wheel Theatre now through July 11.
Single adult tickets are $30 for all shows. Tickets for students 13 through college are $16, and children 12 and under are $12. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more.
To order tickets or for more information about upcoming events at the Wagon Wheel Theatre, call the box office today at 574-267-8041 or toll-free at 866-823-2618, or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
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