Cheerleaders in Hastings Girls' High and Hastings Boys' High schools' stage production of Bring It On. Photo / Paul Taylor
Cheerleaders in Hastings Girls' High and Hastings Boys' High schools' stage production of Bring It On. Photo / Paul Taylor
Bring it On is a combined effort from Hastings Boys' and Girls' High schools to present a cheer-tastic musical loosely based on the original cult classic.
Carol Della Barca directs the New Zealand premiere of the hit musical, with musical direction from Chris Atkinson and choreography by Jillian Andrews presentinga visual and audio showcase of Hastings' talented youth.
After Truman High's cheerleading captain Campbell is "redistricted" to the underdog Jackson High School, she reforms their hip-hop crew into a squad to win nationals and triumph over Truman High's new captain, Eva. From Overture, the first of 22 songs, the audience is swept away by pom-poms, puppy love and pep talks, as the 50-strong cast breathe new life into a tired plot with every musical number.
Laura Starch as Campbell is at home on the stage, whether performing a solo, surrounded by her squad/crew, or suffocating in a leprechaun costume - a credit to her, as Campbell's quest for revenge drives the entire plot.
Alexander Thach holds her own as the antagonist-turned-best-friend Danielle, while K-Ci Williams' portrayal of Randall breaks out of the typical love interest role.
The Jackson boys, played by Alex Toafia and Danny Toala, never fail to get a laugh from the audience, but do get a run for their money from Georgia Stafford's Bridget - Campbell's quirky sidekick/moral compass, whose voice definitely garnered more solos.
Notable mention to supporting roles: Sally Mirams slips into the shoes of catty cheerleader Skylar with ease, while Georgia Houghton brings a new dimension to her character La Cienega's role as a comic-relief sidekick.
At two-and-a-half hours long, the production drags in the second act as the cast sing and dance their way through multiple scenes and character development.
But the climactic cheer-off between the Truman High Buccaneers and Jackson Irish manages to perk its audience back up, just in time to watch "the Jackson squad finish by celebrating their true victory, friendship".
Even with its cliched themes of friendship, self-empowerment, and "winning's not everything" attitude, Bring it On does a brilliant job of remaining self-aware to keep its audience from cringing, with Truman cheerleader Skylar finally breaking the fourth wall by proclaiming: "Everyone's gone through this, like, personal growth."
Creative set changes show an ingenious use of equipment at the production's disposal, utilising the hall's projector for "Skype conversations", turning lockers into a cosy bedroom, with lighting schemes to remind the audience of the motives driving Sydnee Vercoe's Eva.
-Don't miss the final two performances of Bring it On, at Hastings Boys' High School on July 2 and 3. Get your tickets from Hastings Boys' or Hastings Girls' High schools.
