Your Space - High School Musical, The Churchill, Bromley

9:53am Thursday 7th February 2008

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I COULD not really believe it when I heard that High Street Musical at Bromley's Churchill Theatre had sold out weeks before Christmas, writes Geoff Billingsley.

Fair enough for the Friday and Saturday night shows, but all performances, including matinees? Well, it was very true indeed.

The cast, all relatively unknown, play out a simple little love story. Ashley Dale plays Troy Bolton who is head over heels with Gabriella Montez, played by the gorgeous Lorna Want. He is captain of the school basketball team; she is a brainiac who loves science.

They both become involved in the school musical, which does not sit too well with Troy's dad, who also happens to be school sports coach.

He thinks Troy should keep his head in the game. Sharpay Evans (Helen George) complicates things a little and tries to get our two heroes thrown out of the show. Sharpay's endeavours made her the funniest character on stage.

The story isn't too complicated but it's the show's energy and pulsation which really takes hold. The gym dance scenes leave you craving oxygen.

High School Musical is set for a run at the Hammersmith Apollo in the spring and will no doubt become as permanent as Fame and Grease have in recent years. Don't believe me? Ask 11-year-old Chelsea, sitting in row FF of the circle, next to my wife, who knew every song inside out and every character instantly. As the song goes "We're All in This Together" so we better get used to it.