MUSICAL REVIEW: High School Musical ★★★
Two decades after Disney’s High School Musical first sent a generation of teenagers dreaming of basketball courts and musical-theatre auditions, Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez have returned to the stage with an infectious burst of nostalgia. Co-directed by Joseph Houston and William Whelton, this production understands precisely what audiences want: familiar songs, exuberant choreography and the comforting message that being yourself is always worth the risk. The story remains unabashedly simplistic, but its enthusiasm is difficult to resist. Tobias Turley brings athletic confidence to Troy, while Leonor Correia’s Gabriella offers a gentler counterpoint. Their romantic connection, however, lacks the spark needed to make their central relationship entirely convincing. Elsewhere, Caitlin Tipping relishes Sharpay’s deliciously exaggerated ambition, forming a particularly entertaining double act with Luke Bayer’s Ryan. Original film cast member KayCee Stroh is a delight...
