Book: Robert Mark Kamen
Music & Lyrics: Drew Gasparini
Director: Amon Miyamoto
We all know nostalgia sells, theatre goers will have lost count of the number of well-loved, classic 70s, 80s, 90s and even early 2000s TV shows and movies adapted for the stage in recent years. Unlike the recent arrival in town Mean Girls, which takes current sensibilities into consideration, re-setting the action to the present day, The Karate Kid roots itself firmly in its original 1980s setting and is streets ahead because of it.
Italian-American teen Daniel LaRusso (Gino Ochello) relocates with his mother from New Jersey to California, into a life that’s not all sunshine and roses. The new kid in town is relentlessly bullied by Johnny (Joe Simmons) the ex-boyfriend of new friend Ali (Abigail Amin) and his gang until he is taken under the wing of building handyman and war veteran Mr. Miyagi (Adrian Pang). Miyagi ultimately trains his protégé to compete in a Karate tournament against his tormentors from Cobra Kai dojo. Along the way Daniel learns that Karate is as much about training the spirit as the body. Broadly a tale of resilience, self growth and courage it also touches on themes of the immigrant experience.
The themes are treated fairly broadly and simplistically to create a family friendly musical that is interspersed with gentle humour throughout. It results in a show that is very much needed in our harsh times. A show with heart, dignity and real human connection where good actually triumphs. The characters stories are so well drawn that we are rooting for (and against) them from the very start.
Its greatest asset are its two leads Ochello and Pang whose chemistry radiates from the stage. It manages to be truly touching and enough to move the audience to shouts of encouragement from the auditorium. Ochello is a find, a warm, engaging young lead with a fine voice and veteran Singaporean actor Pang is a pair of sure hands as the adorable Miyagi. That said, there is not a single weak link in the entire cast. Sharon Sexton as Daniel’s New Jersey mom and Matt Mills as the clearly scarred Vietnam war vet leader of Cobra Kai, also make their mark.
The songs are varied in style and tone and are a perfect emotional fit for the story. One of the most outstanding aspects of the production is its choreography from Keone and Mari Madrid. From martial arts inspired sequences (in particular the stunning first Cobra Kai scene) to glorious Eastern style dances, they are executed with flawless precision to perfection. Each ideally suited to the mood of the scene.
Derek McLane’s set is visually stunning. Inventively designed, it utilises Shoji screens to provide seamless transitions and the whole production is so richly lit by Bradley King that the lighting feels like a character itself.
Fans of the original movie and the subsequent franchise, right up to its new young audience from the Cobra Kai series will not be disappointed. This production is as near a perfect match as you could wish with its source material, but with new invention for the stage.
If its an uplifting, heart-warming tale of the little guy triumphing that you want, a show that multiple generations can enjoy together, a show that leaves you feeling that there’s still a bit of hope in the world, then this is the show for you.
Runs until 4 July 2026 | Image: Manuel Harlan
