CityLife

High School Musical 2

High School Musical 2
Manchester Opera House
November 24, 2009

EVERY generation has its American high school movie favourite, from Grease to Hairspray. But if you've got kids, you'll be familiar with the current favourite, Disney's High School Musical.

And the Disney magic shone through in this stage version with loads of high energy numbers. I was tapping my feet to songs such as What Time Is It?, You Are The Music In Me and Fabulous.

Picking up where the first instalment left off, school’s out at East High and the Wildcats are in need of summer jobs.

Troy, Gabriella, Taylor and Chad et al land work at exclusive country club, Lava Springs, but are dismayed to find out that Ryan and Sharpay are holidaying there too.

The action builds to the Midsummer Night Talent Show where the scheming Sharpay, played brilliantly by Lauren Hall, came into her own as she tried to win back Troy.

GMTV viewers may be familiar with Liam Doyle, who beat hundreds of hopefuls in its Search for Troy competition earlier this year. He was great in the role, with charm and teen idol looks to rival Zac Efron.

The one ‘grown up’ on stage was former Corrie star Ian Reddington, as the country club manager, who had just the right amount of world-weariness and fawning servility. The show finished late for little 'uns at 9.15pm, but there wasn’t a tired child in the house. Go Wildcats!