REVIEW: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2, New Wimbledon Theatre, August 26 2009

It would be all too easy to dismiss this production as just another cynical cash-in from the unstoppable High School Musical revenue juggernaut, but that would be doing a disservice to a show that left me with a broad grin on my face as I exited the theatre - and I'm probably a good 20 years past the age of its target audience.

David Simpatico's book actually improves on its source material, correcting some of the flaws that had always bothered me a little bit in the Disney Channel Original Movie. Admittedly, the plot is still pretty slight - we follow the East High Wildcats working at a luxurious country club during their summer break, in which the devious Sharpay plots to steal school hunk Troy (Liam Doyle) from his wholesome girlfriend Gabriella (Nikki Mae) - but the script has been peppered with extra gags that will fly over the heads of the pre-teens and give their chaperones a chuckle, including one superb reference to the characters' uncanny ability to look at a piece of sheet music and seemingly instantly perform the song in a multi-layered harmony with slick choreography.  The denouement has been improved significantly too, and is now far more sympathetic to one character than the movie was, and without wishing to give too much away, sets a far better example to its attentive young audience.

The songs have also been souped-up, most notably Troy's angsty solo 'Bet On It' - previously an unintentionally hilarious sequence in which Zac Efron emoted all over a golf course, it's been given a rock opera style arrangement that transforms it into a surprisingly potent set-piece.

Of the cast, Lauren Hall stands out as Sharpay, grasping the best part in the show with both hands and running with it gloriously.  She's ably supported by Matt Kennedy as Sharpay's twin brother Ryan and an appropriately energetic and attractive cast.  Les Dennis also adds good value to the proceedings as put-upon country club manager Mr Fulton. The set design by Kenneth Foy deserves a mention too, with the construction of the swimming pool being a particular highlight - not to mention the pink sequinned golf cart.

It's not faultless by any means - on the night I attended, the sound levels were frequently mismanaged, leaving large chunks of lyrics and dialogue completely inaudible, and it is sometimes hard to care about the on-off relationship of Troy and Gabriella because both characters are rather bland, despite the best efforts of the actors playing them, but if your children have roped you into taking them to see this show, you may find you enjoy it more than you think. And if they haven't, it might even be worth roping your kids into making you take them.

High School Musical 2 is at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 5th September 2009, and then around the country.

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