18th Jan 08

What:
High School Musical

Who:
Harvest Train

Where:
Sydney Street Theatre, 166 Sydney St, New Farm

When:
Launch: Thurs Jan 24, 7.30pm
Runs: Thurs Jan 24 - Sat 2 Feb
Opening hours: Wed - Sat 7.30 pm, also Sat 26 Jan and Sat 2 Feb, 2pm

How much:
$27/$25 concession, tickets at the box office or book online

Just when you thought that showtunes had no hope in the tweens market, Disney released the TV movie High School Musical, sparking a fan-base nearly as large as its merchandise range. But you can’t hold capitalistic intentions against a good theatre show. Which is why local theatre group Harvest Rain are putting on High School Musical down at Sydney Street Theatre.

What begins as a random pairing of Troy, the head high school jock, with shy geek girl Gabriella in a New Year’s karaoke competition soon becomes a social scene school shock! They discover they are at the same school so the pin-up pair try out of the high school musical together. After topping the dynamic drama duo Sharpay and Ryan Evans for lead, the rigidity of the school hierarchy throws up barriers to block their success. As they discover harmony in more ways than one, they must struggle with a peer-group that just isn’t ready for an all-singing, all-dancing, jock/geek combo?

Pitched as a modern-day Grease, High School Musical is something of a thematic orgy. It’s the age old story of the struggle to be accepted why trying to be yourself; set to a bubbly soundtrack of hits such as 'Stick it to the Status Quo', 'Bop to the Top' and 'Breaking Free'. Pepper the mix with a bit of boy-meets-girl and jocks-don’t-date-geeks and you’re bound to have a hit. Right?!

All in all it comes across to us as slightly satirical; something like an artificially sweetened John Waters film, complete with all the camp.

By Elliott Bledsoe

By Elliott Bledsoe

Medium: Performance

Drink: Double espresso