The Karate Kid The Musical. The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.
The Karate Kid is of course an extremely famous hit film from 1984 – a staple of 80’s culture. It spawned three initial sequels, a remake, a hugely popular TV spin off series (Cobra Kai), and a further sequel. It has now been turned into a musical.
Turning an iconic and beloved film into a musical could’ve been risky, but it works. REALLY well.
The story follows Daniel LaRusso and his single parent mom who have just relocated to California from New Jersey. Being the new kid in town can be tricky anyway but Daniel runs into school bully Johnny Lawrence who is intent on making his life hell. Johnny is also a black belt in karate. Daniel meets the maintenance man at the block where he lives – Mr Miyagi – who is also an expert in karate – and he teaches him how to defend himself.
Those familiar with the film will not be disappointed. Everything is there that you know and love. It’s not a carbon copy however and it definitely has a sprinkling of musical magic – including fantastic songs that really add to the story. Some highlights being the punchy Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy, and the stunning If I Could Take His Pain Away.
The cast are perfect. Gino Ochello as Daniel is the perfect underdog. You’re with him every step of the way. He’s just so likeable (and his voice is fantastic). Adrian Pang as Mr Miyagi has everything you expect from the character and more (he is EXTREMELY funny). A crowd favourite. Joe Simmons as Johnny is such a convincing baddie – snarling his way through every scene. Sharon Sexton as Daniel’s mom Lucille is a delight. She’s warm, believable and has powerhouse vocals. Matt Mills as John Kreese – the owner of Cobra Kai is deliciously despicable and gets the boos of a panto villain. The rest of the cast are a great ensemble which not only play the supporting parts but also help to accentuate scenes with physicality and movement. This was a great touch.
The staging is very effective, using Japanese screens which create the various settings of the piece. These seamlessly glide in an out and the effect is extremely slick. The choreography is great which includes the fights which are choreographed to great effect.
Even though the audience know the outcome they were right there in the thick of the tournament cheering on the hero. It’s electric. A real crowd pleaser.
Not just nostalgic. It’s fantastic.
5 stars. A musical with a real kick.
