High School Musical at Paper Mill Playhouse Review

[Mactor327]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 9:37pm

I recently went to the Sunday (11-16-02:00 performance of High School Musical at Paper Mill. I thought the show was actually pretty good. It was a full house, alot of kids and families were there, which was both good and bad. PARENTS, if you plan on taking your kids to see this show, just go over the basic theatre manners with them. I was sitting next to a group of mothers and daughters. The kids would not shut up, the moms didnt stop them, and the mothers were texting on their blackerry's throughout the show (which I thought was just plain rude)there were a few kids talking here and there all around. this almost ruined the show for me because its distracting. Now for the review...

Script and Plot
What I liked about the script was that it include some new scenes, new lines, and new songs. It also added depth to Troy and Gabriella's relationship. You could see how it really impacted the school. I also really like how the showed Ryan and Sharpay. This is always how I pictured that relationshop. Ryan being a lapdog to sharpay. The contrast between Ms. Darbus, and Coach Bolton was great. And the whole clique problem was shown in a bigger way than that in the movie.

Production
This was a very professional production. The choreography was fast paced with energy. I liked the dancing in the aisles, particularly with "breaking free". The sets were good, that was a nice way to transition from scene to scene. They were modern, simple, and professional. The costumes were good too. Although I didn'd understand why Gabriella was wearing Blue at the end, while the theme was red and white.

Cast
What I liked about the cast was that they did not mimic the performances in the movie. They all were original.
Chase Peacock (Troy) was great. He had a great singing voice. He has good chemistry with everyone, especially Sydney Morton. He carried the show well.
Sydney Morton (Gabriella) perfectly projected the sweetness of Gabriella. Her singing was great at sometimes. but bad at others. "When there was Me and You" was supposed to be soft, but she sounded very nasal. However, her shyness to the school and ths situation, really made the character.
BAILEY HANKS(Sharpay) probably had the highest expecations for being one of, if not THE most well known person in the cast. She didnt make Sharpay a complete bitch, and projected great sassiness, attitude, and Bulliness. She was a little like Elle Woods here and there (especially in the scene after her audtion wih Kelsi, it was like the Shopgirl scene in "Blonde")But she did good. I think we will see more from her in the future. She played well of of Ryan
Logan Hart (Ryan) was GREAT. You could really feel for him. You could see how much Sharapy bullies him, and how much he wants to break free of that. He almost fell off the stage doing a cartwheeel. He also porjected a really cheesey aspect during his songs, which was perfect.
I could go on and on. If you want to know more let me know.

FEEL FREE TO POST COMMENTS!!!!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 9:46pm

I was there Saturday and had a great time. Is it a great musical? Absolutely not. However, the cast was great, the songs are catchy, and it has moments of real humor. It was also great to see so many families and children having a day at the theater. For the most part they were very well-behaved, save for the one child in our section who thought this was karaoke.

The cast was excellent, right down the line. I didn't really sense Bailey playing Elle- Elle never seemed that mean to me. I loved the girl who played Gabriella- she had the geekiness that Vanessa Hudgens lacked, who looked like she walked in out of a Vogue photo shoot. The guy who played Troy was also great and didn't seem to have any trouble hitting the higher notes. I also enjoyed the Ryan a great deal.

Special kudos to Donna English as Miss Darbus, who was a real scene-stealer.

Did anyone at the performance you attended catch the Chorus Line reference? WAT and I were the only ones laughing Saturday afternoon at that part.
Updated On: 11/17/08 at 09:46 PM

[toddlisatyriem]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 10:19pm

I have a question about Sharpay/Bailey for those of you that have seen this production.....

I saw the touring cast of HSM with Chase and overall the performances were good... not great, but the biggest turn off was the portrayal of Sharpay. I wasn't sure if it was the actress or the rewrites for the stage, but Sharpay was downright bitchy and completely unlikeable to the point where she ruined it for me. I also felt like Sharpay's stage time was greater than that of Gabrielle.

I always took Ashley's take on the role as self-centered and entitled more than an outright bitch. You can't help but still like Ashley's Sharpay, but the touring Sharpay was just nasty. How did Bailey approach the role? Was she still likeable, yet self-absorbed and princessy or rude and mean? Just curious since I felt like it really affected my take on the entire touring production.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 10:23pm

Sharpay is written to be an "ice princess." Bailey played it kind of mean, but the whole show is so saccharine, I wouldn't say she was a bitch. Her brother forces her to apologize for her meanness at the end, and all is well.

[famefan25]

Posted: 11/18/08 at 11:43pm

I'm going up to NJ to see Chase in the show next weekend.