Disney’s High School Musical

The biggest production to hit Perth since the shut-down, HAMA Productions’ High School Musical, is playing to Covid capacity audiences in a well-polished feel-good show.

Proving very popular with teenage audiences, an often over-looked demographic, this show has a big-budget feel, a great look and a ton of good-feeling. A multi-level set (production and lighting design by Jordan Roach) allows us to see the large ensemble, who execute the dynamic choreography from Rhyli Neaves with precision, and sound great, thanks to vocal direction by Veronica Bravo and sound design by Jake Goodsell. It's great to see a cast that believably look the ages of the characters they play.

Isabella McSporran, perhaps more familiar as a character actress, steps into the leading role as Gabriella Montez - a very likeable and beautifully sung performance. She works very nicely with Ethan Churchill’s charismatic, well-voiced Troy Bolton. Lovely performances from Elaina O’Connor and Joshua Hartley as antagonists Sharpay and Ryan, with great comic timing and audience favourites.

Other classmates include Meesha Palman - sounding very clever as Taylor McKessie, Fraser Stuart - convincing as Chad Danforth, and Amy McCann - very sweet as composer Kelsie. Chelsea Ionnidis was a delightful Martha, Tom Denver charmed as Zeke, with Ben Cruse brought lots of personality to school radio announcer Jack Scott.

John O’Hara travelled from Sydney, and spent a fortnight in hotel quarantine, to reprise the role of Coach Bolton - bringing depth and experience to the role, and a very welcome addition to the cast. Genevieve Newman shone as eccentric Drama teacher Ms Darbus, with David Grey nicely completing the ‘adult’ cast as Science teacher Tinney

A true feel good show with some great messages, and a wonderful showcase of young WA talent. Congratulations to HAMA for bringing this huge show to fruition in a time of uncertainty.

Kimberley Shaw