An honest review by Aoibheann Butterly & Lorcan Tapley; an assignment in Múinteoir Rónán's 3rd Year English class
The Coláiste Ghlór na Mara Ty musical never ceases to amaze those young and old. This year’s depiction of ‘High School Musical’ was no different as it maintained the incredibly high standards of years past.
The incredible adaptation was performed live on CGNM’s very own Broadway theatre, as the sports hall was completely transformed. The impressive stage, built by our very own Antoni Gaudi, Múinteoir Seosamh, brought ‘East High’ to life, alongside the creative & colourful set designed by the school’s Picasso, Múinteoir Caroline. Let’s not forget our very own Vera Wang, better known as Múinteoir Róisín who had our actors looking like a posse from Paris fashion week.
The breathtaking voice of Lily Nic Mhánais, starring as Gabriella, stole the show! You could argue that Gabriella was reincarnated through Lily. She sensationally grasped her timid nature and conveyed her introverted character who was waiting to break free. Her beautiful, almost angelic voice, paired with Matthew ó Cochláin as Troy, created the dream couple for the audience to cheer for. Troy is an enigmatic character and I certainly don’t envy him following in the footsteps of Zac Efron. However, Matthew elegantly portrays Troy’s contrasting personalities as the basketball legend of East High and the lover of singing. He manages to subtly, yet effectively convey Troy’s frustration with being the basketball’s spiritual leader and pursuing his aspirations of being a singer. His contempt of Sharpay, which he makes no secret of, is clear to the audience and had them rolling in their droves.
The cast, chosen by Múinteoirí Niall, Orna & Siobhan, could only be described as perfection. My personal favourite was Lara Ní Rónáin in her wonderful portrayal of the self-centred Sharpay. Her unique take on the role was captivating and intriguing to consume, especially during her performance of ‘Bop to the Top’. She simply stole the show with her sassy performance. I also thoroughly enjoyed her portrayal of Sharpay’s character development throughout the show.
The audience was captivated by the eye-catching choreography performed by many of the cheerleaders, who truly showcased the cast’s passion for performing and feeding into the incredible atmosphere.
The creative and innovative spin on the soundtrack was beautifully crafted by the Mozarts, múinteoirí Siobhan, Orna & Niall again. The use of basketballs as the main rhythm during Matthew’s rendition of ‘Get Your Head in the Game’ was exhilarating to watch. However, the stand-out moment belongs to the performance of the ubiquitously known ‘Breaking Free’. It was a truly magical moment that greatly lived up to the exceptional standards set by previous CGNM musicals.
As the cast danced and sang the night away, the audience was simply in awe of the terrifically breathtaking performance.
The 2024 ceoldráma continues to convey the passion, pride and love CGNM have for both musical talent and the presentation of the Irish language, something that makes this show all the more magical. This incredible performance will certainly be remembered in the ‘Hall of Fame’ of CGNM musicals.
While it is possible to go on, I fear that I may escalate a fear of mine. How are next year’s TY students going to top this beautiful, engaging, masterfully executed production? Only time will tell.