REVIEW: High School Musical on Ice [Theatre Buff]

Theatre Buff

Behind the scenes after the final curtain call...

REVIEW: High School Musical on Ice

Posted on January 2, 2008 2:33 PM
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disneys-high-school-musical---the-ice-tour_001183_MainPicture.jpg Disney's High School Musical On Ice
O2 Arena
27th December 2007

Review by Joe Cohen

After reviewing Zeppelin, Prince and Cold War Kids in 2007 I finally show my true colours.

As a Christmas present for my daughters I nabbed three tickets for High School Musical on Ice (Second row of the floor, thanks Seatwave). We made our way out to North Greenwich, tube is by far the best way from anywhere, for the 11am performance during the in-between days. After some brief confusion about where the seats actually were (the configuration was actually ON the ice so the staff wasn’t totally sure at first) and a debate on whether this would be HSM I or HSM II, we got settled into our seats for the show.

The performance started right on time and from the first second it was clear this was a top-notch, highly-produced performance. I can barely skate at all so to watch others sing, dance, play basketball, jump, debate and gush while skating is a truly humbling experience. And these performers do it well. Well choreographed dancing combined with the songs everyone under 17 knew by heart is just the trick to shake off the post Christmas blues. I have to hand it to the producers who re-create every musical number in the shows minus any dialogue and in this way the pace is F1 fast. Set one 45 minutes, intermission 20 minutes, set two 45 minutes…done. A parent’s dream.

The girls were enraptured the entire time, bet settled as HSM I was act one and HSM II was set two, and didn’t even mind that it took me 25 minutes to get drinks and nachos. The only negative comment I can make is that the O2 staff closed 70% of the concession stands so getting anything was a total disaster.

Having now been to Lazy Town, Bear and the Big Blue House and The Gruffalo in the past twelve months I highly recommend HSMoI to any parents who are required to provide live entertainment to augment the regular TV schedule.

See Disney's High School Musical On Ice.