St Joseph’s of Castlebar score top marks with High School The Musical

Inspired by the 2006 Disney film that launched teenage heart-throbs Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens into mega-stardom, High School Musical: The Musical features many well-known tunes, including ‘We’re All In This Together’.

Haven’t we heard that particular refrain many times before? It’s a well-worn cliché, but it epitomises the mindset that’s needed to put on a good musical, particularly one as good as the one staged by St Joseph’s of Castlebar.

Eighty-seven students took part in a show seen by hundreds – and, no doubt, would have been seen by hundreds more had it run for another few performances.

It’s a real pity that they had to sign off on such a good production so soon after take-off. Particularly with the effort, attention to detail and sheer numbers involved both onstage, off-stage and in front of the stage, where a large orchestra composed mostly of students were superb all evening.

^{A scene from St Joseph's Secondary School's production of High School Musical at the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre in Castlebar Pic: The Mayo News}

‘High School Musical’ is a really fun show to do. But it’s by no means easy, particularly with an all-female cast.

Seeing and hearing females cast in male roles does take some adjusting. But Grace Bailey (Troy Bolton), Erin Meagher (Ryan Evans), Chigozirim Cynthia Madu (Chad Danforth), Clodagh Kelly (Zeke Baylor), Zoe Flannery (Coach Bolton) and Keila Conway (Jack Scott) did such a fine job playing men and boys that you’d barely evening notice.

There were some very sharp lead performances here. Lucy Rae Delaney displayed a fine singing voice as the chief female protagonist Gabriella Montez, the new girl at East High School, who quickly falls for the school basketball team captain, Troy Bolton.

Leah Conway gave a delightful performance as the squeaking, shrieking, bleach-blonde dolled-up diva Charpay Evans. Herself and Erin Meagher (Ryan Evans) made for a funny and truly charming double act.

The experienced Deirdre Lee commanded an excellent orchestra, which featured 33 student musicians from First Year to Leaving Cert on 16 violins, eight flutes, six harps, two glockenspiels and a guitar.

They were backed by a rocking four-piece band with Ms Lee on keys, Mick Buckton on guitar, Brendan Kennedy on bass and the outstanding Terry Cooke on drums. Their relentless energy and precision were a mirror image of the stage above them, where the tight harmonies, well-delivered gags and big, ambitious, colourful dance routines kept a receptive audience entertained all evening.

^{Grace Bailey as Troy Bolton (centre left) taking during St Joseph's Secondary School Castlebar's 2024 production of High School Musical at the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre in Castlebar (Pic: The Mayo News)}

Great credit must go to the production team of Deirdre Lee (musical director), Sarah Callaghan (choreographer) and Donna Ruane (director) in this regard. The show was pacy but never rushed, the acting was lively and colourful but never melodramatic. Visually, a big projector provided an apposite backdrop to every scene and enhanced a show that’s as colourful as you’ll find anywhere.

When the closing night thanks and gifts were exchanged, the students sang, leapt, hopped and hollered their way off the stage like a team that had just won an All-Ireland title.

After a performance as good as that, you really couldn’t blame them.

^{Pictured during St Joseph's Secondary School Castlebar's production of High School Musical at the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre in Castlebar are (left to right) Erin Meaghar (Ryan Evans), Leah Conway (Sharpay Evans), Grace Bailey (Troy Bolton) and Lucy Rae Delaney (Gabriella Montez) (Pic: The Mayo News)}