Bullying at its best. “Nerdy Prudes must die” is an American high school musical about the bully and what the other kids do about him. Of course there are guns, death, humiliation…all the normal US social values. And lots of music. It’s a teen-slasher horror-comedy musical by StarKid.

The cast of ten (Adam Goodall, Holly Komorowski, Angelina Marchant, Torin Cook, Alicia Lorie, Benjamin Bistrow, Darcy Jackson, Emma Hanson, Nathan Chan, Jaime Rosales) and the band of six including Musical Director Patrick Bischoff, come together under the direction of Tayla Simpson and Choreographer Sav Stern to create a foot-tapping story that retains the audience’s attention until the last note.

Stage Manager Lucy Wilding is kept hopping all night as the minimalist stage settings are whisked on and off stage. The lighting provides the overall setting.

Hatchfield High is your generic white USA high school, without the school shootings. But there are cops, murders and trips to the Principal’s Office.

The cast do a great job. There were some mesmerising voices among them.

Adam Goodall plays Max Jagerman the fiendish bully and football quarterback with gusto and talent. He flips effortlessly from “literal monster” to intrigued exposing a softer side to his outlandish standover tactic side. His vocals met the role. Max has a soft spot for Grace Chastity.

Holly Komorowski plays the Christian virgin Grace Chastity who meets hormones instigated by the attentions of the above school bully and quarterback. She does the Christian thing and gives up her most cherished possession to save her friends.

Torin Cook plays the quiet boy Peter Spankoffski who has long ago resigned himself to be picked on. Now he’s taller and smarter, the most popular girl, the Mayor’s daughter Stephanie played by Angelina Marchant, wants him to help her pass her tests. A match make in heaven or hell?

Alicia Lorie has a powerful voice. You can expect to see a lot of her in the future. In this musical, her character ends up dead. Pity.

The rest of the crew manage various roles with aplomb. It was truly a mesmerising show.

We were kept enthralled right until the last note. Well done Hanson Creative and crew.

It really deserved a bigger stage and a bigger audience.

If you missed it, have a look at some scenes of a three-year-old US version online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG3RDdyD_GQ

Kerry McGovern