An action-packed iconic musical adaptation of the beloved 80s movie has begun touring the UK at Wimbledon!
The Karate Kid The Musical is a new musical which follows the story of the beloved 80s movie The Karate Kid. With multiple expansions to this universe through additional sequels and Cobra Kai: a musical adaption was bound to be on the horizon. The musical follows Daniel, the new kid in town who immediately gets into conflicted when Johnny, a Cobra Kid student, targets him. After developing a crush on Johnny’s ex girlfriend Ali, Danny starts training with Mr Miyagi in the art of karate: learning that it’s not all about fighting but has a deeper meaning. Director Amon Miyamoto was able to capture the essence of the story, developing a story around hope and fond family. The direction as a whole allows for a dynamic atmosphere, full of intense action but saving time for emotional moments. With a book by Robert Mark Kamen and music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini, this musical brings the action of the Karate Kid series to life!
Choreography by Keone and Mari Madrid is beyond action packed, with significant fight choreography alongside the dance. The actors are continually kept on their toes, with little down time: making for a thrilling watch! The dance also feels contemporary and fresh, adding a new twist. Costume design by Ayako Maeda and hair/wig design by Tommy Kurzman add the classic 80s feel to the piece: mimicking some of the fashion found in the original movie. Alongside this, Scenic design by Derek Mclane is well utilised to help us navigate different settings. Though the set is minimal, often using scenes and projections, it works well for the show. Lighting design by Bradley King, sound design by Kai Harada and projection design by Peter Nigrini help to add further atmosphere to the piece. The songs are composed well, often being used in integral parts of The Karate Kid story. Some of the highlights include ‘Balance’, ‘Slow Song’ and ‘If I Could Take His Pain Away’. On the other hand, some tracks feel more generic: still working within the context of the show but less authentically.
This production is a real team effort, with an ensemble who work above and beyond to deliver set changes, dance breaks and fight choreography. Alongside this, they consistently change outfits to suit the scene: never giving them much rest between. From the first song, the choreography is challenging and the whole ensemble embrace this: providing slick movement. Sharon Sexton plays Lucille LaRusso, Daniel’s mother who has moved to LA to start a new job. Sexton provides such an elegance and humorous take on this character: being able to land heartfelt moment whilst keeping audiences laughing in between. Sexton’s duet alongside Ochello ‘If I Could Take His Pain Away’ was a stand out moment in the second half. Amongst heavy action and karate practice, this moving moment helps to bridge the emotional weight of the moment extremely well. Matt Mills plays John Kreese, the head of Cobra Kai soon. Mills is able to portray a very stern and intense coach, giving action alongside his musical moments. His song ‘Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy’ was intense throughout, which was supported by Mills’ acting and the lighting. Joe Simmons plays Johnny Lawrence, Ali’s ex boyfriend and rival to Daniel: studying at Cobra Kai. Simmons was able to capture Johnny very well, embodying the character throughout the show. His rivalry against Ochello was believable and his vocal performance in ‘Typically Ali Mills’ were very strong.
Abigail Amin plays Ali Mills, Johnny’s ex who develops a crush on Daniel. Amin knows what the audience wants to see with her character. She is charming, quirky and a constant joy to watch: adding energy into every scene. Moreover, Amin’s vocals were clear and confident sounding brilliant in both ‘Who I’m Going to Be’ and her duet alongside Ochello, ‘Slow Song’. Gino Ochello plays Daniel LeRusso, the new kid in LA who instantly gets into trouble. Danny is such a likeable character, being optimistic and developing a strong fond family dynamic with Mr Miyagi. Ochello is able to capture this dynamic perfectly in the story. His vocals are incredibly strong, singing ‘A Million Miles Away’ insanely well. As a professional stage debut, Ochello has already made himself well known in this role and we hope to continue to see him in many future projects. Adrian Ping plays Mr Miyagi, Daniel’s unconventional karate teacher. Mr Miyagi brings some of the most iconic moments to The Karate Kid, with phrases such as ‘wax on, wax off’. Ping is perfect in this role and feels made to play Mr Miyagi, encapsulating the essence of his comedy and intelligence. His relationship with Ochello feels genuine and is the strongest part of this production.
The Karate Kid Musical continues touring the UK till August before heading to Canada. Don’t miss this fantastic new production!
Max
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