‘13’ A Teenage Drama

Review by Ben Pryde & Photos by Kevin Rodgers

Having had no knowledge of the synopsis of ‘13’, I had no idea what to expect when I entered Clydebank Town Hall for the performance.

It’s safe to say I was blown away by the crude humour, excellent choreography and outstanding musical scores produced by the CMS Juniors.

I was expecting a high-quality performance from seeing the extraordinary production of ‘The Wiz’ last November and this year’s Juniors performance met, and even exceeded, my expectations.

The fantastic performance speaks volumes to the direction of both Jamie Lee Aitken and Benjamin Collins and choreographer, Iona McHugh - who all have bagfuls of experience in all
aspects of musical theatre.

With a run of five shows it’s clear to see how dedicated every one of the 53 cast members are to their craft, ensuring they learn from mistakes in rehearsals, and even opening night, to improve their performances and delight the audiences who make their way to the Town Hall.

Friends & Popularity

‘13’ takes the lead character, 13-year-old Evan Goldman - played by the wonderful Euan Reid, out of his idyllic life in New York City when his mother and father divorce, moving him to a quiet town in Indiana, leaving Evan to balance trying to be popular and staying true to his beliefs.

Evan meets Patrice (played by CMS veteran Evie McColgan) and they hit it off, but he quickly realises Patrice is an outsider frequently ostracised by the ‘popular ones’ - led by Brett (portrayed with an excellent performance by Ben Baldasara).

To gain popularity at school, Evan invites everyone to his bar mitzvah but when Brett learns Patrice is invited, he forces Evan to choose between either him and most of the school or just Patrice and the other outsider, Archie (depicted by Struan Welsh).

Peer pressure proves too much and Evan uninvites Patrice, leaving her devastated and angry.

More high school shenanigans ensue, told through 18 musical numbers by the CMS cast.

After much teenage angst Evan ends up having his bar mitzvah with just Patrice and Archie, realising he would rather have a couple of true friends than a lot of fake ones.

Stellar Cast, Stellar Acting

This stellar cast of young actors pulled off some amazing shows this year.

I was in awe of all the cast expressing their own creativity and in roles that can resonate with young people reliving their teenage years in the drama, cliques, feuds and edgy comedy that unfolded.

I have no doubt I am not the only one intrigued by what CMS will bring to the table next year and how the new batch of Juniors will make these roles their own and, again, astound audiences.

Help keep Clydesider free for all by becoming a member here: Join Clydesider Community Magazine's Ko-fi Membership