Review: High School Musical, Newcastle Theatre Royal

Jul 22 2009 by Sarah Scott, The Journal

WHETHER you’re a true Wildcat or if perhaps you have been sharing my own little space under the rock of ignorance, you cannot have failed to have heard of High School Musical.

This is a true phenomenon. Bashed out for the Disney Channel in 2006 by 13 songwriters, it is now a ‘teen and tween mega-hit’ of three films and two stage show formats.

As a franchise, it probably has the turnover of a small country – Monaco, perhaps – and with the cultural behemoth of Disney behind it, this show drips dollars.

It’s the classic boy-meets-girl tale, Grease for the 21st Century kid – but without the dirt.

Troy is a sports jock and Gabriella a shy brainiac (go figure) and somehow, despite the machinations of superbitch wannabe Sharpay, they make it to the callback for Juliet and Romeo.