Review: PROM QUEEN: THE MUSICAL at the Segal Centre

The Canadian premiere of Prom Queen: The Musical at Montreal's Segal Centre is the company's most ambitious production to date.

It features a cast of 18 and a production team that includes musical director Mark Camilleri and So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Sean Cheesman.

The musical is based on the 2002 case of Ontario teenager Marc Hall, who took the local Catholic School board to court for the right to bring his boyfriend to the high school prom.

Composed by Colleen Dauncey with lyrics by Akiva Romer-Segal, the play is a shining example of an original, homegrown show that is both vastly entertaining and immensely heartfelt.

The play follows the arc of Hall's real-life legal victory while taking creative license to include new characters in Hall's high school social circle.

As his friends rally to help drive his cause forward, Hall must grapple with his, at times, tense relationship with his father, Audy, and boyfriend, Jason.

Alessandro Costantini is absolutely delightful as the precocious "blue-haired fairy" Marc, whose optimism and courage drive the course of the action. His vocals are a perfect fit for the upbeat pop-inspired numbers as well as the standout ballad, "Infinite."

A stellar lead, Costantini is never overshadowed but merely complemented by the superstar supporting characters including his boyfriend Jason (Jonathan Cullen), his mother Emily (Katee Julien) and his lawyer Lonnie Wynn (David Silvestri).

All three delivered powerful solos, captivating the audience's attention completely before sliding seamlessly back into the ensemble.

Katee Julien especially stood out during her sophisticated and vocally rich performance of "Mother Mary."

In telling the story of a young man whose town becomes divided over a case of LGBT discrimination, the play takes a genuine, light-hearted route, airing on the side of high-energy performances and dance numbers save for some choice emotional moments.

There was barely a dry eye in the theatre when Marc's father Audy, played by Sylvain Scott, sang a reprise of "Infinite," accepting and connecting with his son under a sky full of stars.

The stationary set worked well as a diversity of locations including Marc's high school, a shopping mall and a courtroom. The space, which was designed with a stark, industrial feel worked less well as a setting for Marc's family home, sparsely furnished and brightly-lit.

The cast of adults in Marc's life proved stronger than his peers, whose performances at times fell flat as the actors portraying the teens struggled vocally.

Still, the exuberance and success of the core cast helped propel the play forward with resounding success.

Prom Queen: The Musical managed to capture the sincerity of the Marc Hall story without trivializing it or riddling it with cliches. Put simply, the musical was entertaining, hopeful and accessible for any audience.

The run of Prom Queen: The Musical has been extended to Nov. 23, 2016 at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts. Tickets start at $59. Watch the trailer here.

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