Semester Test

Have you ever thought of what Grease would be like in our world today? High School Musical is a modern version of a girl and boy who meet on vacation and are very different people to each other than to the other people around them. Gabriella is s very smart and reserved girl, but on vacation she seems fun and outgoing. Troy is athletic and only focused on sports, no time for girls. But on vacation, he seems to be open to anything and a real friendly teenager. When Gabriella moves to Troy's school, they both see the other side of each other and when they try to branch out and show their true selves, the school revolts.

Gabriella Montez's family went on a winter vacation at the same place Troy Bolton's family went. One night a get together for the teenagers, Gabriella and Troy are picked to sing karaoke together. Both knowing this does not at all fit with their personalities, they hesitate, but in the end do the duet. It's a hit and they speak for a little while afterwards, enough to exchange numbers. When school starts back and the Wildcats, the school basketball team Troy is the captain of, are ready to win the championship. For Troy, everything is back to normal, no more singing. Everyone is in drama class one day and Troy and Gabriella end up realizing she has moved schools; they now attend the same school. Even though they are both excited about being closer, they both quickly explain to each other that the person they both met on vacation is not the same person they are here. School goes on, and although they want it to workout between them, their differences keep separating them. Troy's friends are noticing he is not as focused on basketball as he used to be, and Gabriella's friends are afraid she'll be too caught up in Troy to join their math club. School musicals come around and while watching auditions, Gabriella wants to try out. Mrs. Darbus explains that she must have a partner since single auditions were long before. Troy volunteers, not for himself but for Gabriella. Troy and Gabriella's name show up on the "Call Back" list in the front of the school; the students go wild. Some students begin confessing their hidden love of a hobby they do, but others quiet them and tell them to "stick to the status quo." Chad, Troy's best friend, and Taylor, Gabriella's best friend, decide to change Troy and Gabriella's mind. When Gabriella sees a video or Troy saying the musical means nothing to him along with her, she changes her mind about him. The two personalities keep clashing for each of them, but in the end they find a way to work it out.

High School Musical, along with Grease and West Side Story, are a story line of boy and girl falling in love, but certain people or traditions hold them back. There are some differences between these though. High School Musical is more modern and a story about a boy and girl who choose not to stick with the status quo and stick out by performing in a musical. Grease is also about a boy and girl falling in love who are very different, but also about a boy becoming more sensitive instead of impressing all of his friends. West Side Story is more about tradition. A boy and girl of different ethnic groups meet at a dance of a very separated school. The two groups do not mix at all, and are definitely not allowed to love each other. West Side Story is a story about a boy and girl who fall in love and their struggles to fight against other to keep that love. Fiddler on the Roof could also be compared to High School Musical. Although High School Musical is not about the Russians, it is about tradition. The high school superstar, Troy, is not suppose to also perform in musical, according to tradition. When he meets a girl, he begins breaking out of his shell and breaking these traditions much like the Fiddler's daughter did when she and her husband decided to marry without a matchmaker.

Although I had seen Grease before and already thought I would know the whole story line behind this musical, High School Musical is also very different. It's not a complete repeat of any other musicals done before, but is similar to help it keep to "musical" theme. Also, I like that High School Musical had two movies after it to continue the story. I'm of the people who wonder what happens after the shows over, and with following movies it gives the watcher another ending.

High School Musical is a very modern musical about a boy and girl's struggles to not stick with the status quo and to just be different. It can be compared to other musicals as well and it's a very entertaining musical.