THEATER REVIEW: ‘High School Musical’ rocks playhouse

“Hey, kids, let’s put on a show.” And do they ever at the Laguna Playhouse.

I was in the minority last weekend, having no previous exposure to Disney’s “High School Musical,” but throngs of young people, most probably well versed on the movie, were there, ready to rock and roll.

The story may be simplistic, but the playhouse’s production certainly isn’t “” a cast of 40 mostly young actors fills the stage (and the aisles) in this wild and well-mounted tribute to teenagers with imagination and idealism directed by Donna Inglima.

As created by David Simpatico “” with music and lyrics by 13 different artists “” the show focuses on three groups of high school students whose dreams seem at cross purposes. These are the jocks, the brainiacs and the performance arts kids who may divide the other two camps.

Seems the school is planning a production called “Juliet and Romeo,” an adaptation by a shy but brilliant music student of Shakespeare’s tragedy, only with a happier ending. The teen lovers survive and move to Albuquerque (the show is set in that New Mexico city).Twins Ryan and Sharpay Evans (golden-haired Darius Rose and Ivana Agnic) have played the leads in the school’s musicals “since birth,” but this time they are threatened by the basketball star Troy Bolton (Noah Plomgren) and a new, brainy student, Gabriella Montez, (Chassey Bennett), who reconnect in a scene almost lifted from “Grease.”

Pressures abound. Troy’s dad (Jim Harris) also is the basketball coach “” and a tough one “” who takes immediate umbrage to any poaching of his players by the drama coach (Tisha Bellantuoni). The sparks ignited between these two almost dwarf the primary conflict with Bellantuoni excelling in her assignment.

Plomgren and Bennett are ideally cast as the principled pair of prospective lovers, excelling in a duet called “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” The nominal heavies, Rose and Agnic, may not get the parts in the play, but they have the juiciest scenes “” and the flashiest costumes “” and they strut their stuff gleefully (Agnic bemoaning “I was named after a flabby dog!” is one of the show’s funniest lines).

Other young performers impressing in the Laguna show are Sophia Tupy as the introverted author of “Juliet and Romeo,” Kevin Short and Christina Senesi as instigators of a plot by the jocks and brainiacs, respectively, and Jordan Sandfer as the teen DJ of the school’s radio station.

Where the production really begins to flourish is in its ensemble work “” and here the actors had to share the spotlight at Saturday’s matinee with a cute little pompom girl of about 6 who’d leap from her fourth-row seat and join the production numbers in the aisle. A star may have been born “” choreographer Ellen Prince could use her.

Settings and costumes by veteran designer Dwight Richard Odle are properly bright and flashy, while Donna Ruzika’s lighting effects and Dave Edwards’ sound design contribute splendidly. Musical director Roxanna Ward helms an enthusiastic orchestra upstage.

“High School Musical” is a richly heaped serving of cotton candy for the youngsters who’ll compose the majority of its audiences, with a slice or two of nostalgia for their parents and grandparents.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Disney’s High School Musical on Stage”

WHERE: Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

WHEN: Closing performances tonight at 7:30, Saturday at 2 and 7:30, Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m.

COST: $16 - $20

CALL: (949) 497-2787

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.