YELLOWKNIFE - When a theatre fan hears the words "high school musical," a certain stereotypical dread arises.

Fumbled lines, missed cues, awkward deliveries, off-tune songs. Disaster, in short. For some reason, we expect disaster.

Coach Calhoun (Bill Burlington) gives some sporting advice to Danny Zuko (Bryce Walker) in Sir John Franklin high school's production of Grease is the Word at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre last week. - Terry Kruger/NNSL photo

It's nice to have those impressions - no, myths - crushed. Did I say crushed? I meant exploded. Vaporized. Reduced to a fine mist of glittery dust on the stage, to be removed via street broom with a poetic flourish and a wink.

Eliminating the myth of the bad high school musical has been Sir John Franklin high school's bread and butter for years now, and last week's production of Grease hammered the point home with diamond precision.

From our first step into the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, it was clear the Sir John drama program, in tandem with hard-working community volunteers, had really gone the extra mile.

With Elvis posters and lighted Grease is the Word signs on the walls, and a stage decked out in the pastel-tiled finery of late-50s Rydell high, the audience (which, by the way, sold out all five shows) knew they were in for a treat.

And they were, as a full, talented and energetic cast ripped into the musical, breathing life into the well-known stage favourite.

From Kenickie to Danny Zuko, and Frenchie to Sandy, the classic characters were well-represented by a rotating cast (Sandy was played by three different actors, for instance).

However, the young actors seemed to have the most fun with minor characters, as Walker Redshaw and Stephen Kruger played Coach Calhoun with an inebriated incoherence, while Redshaw and Colton Pellerin gave super-nerd Eugene a certain Napoleon Dynamite-esque flair.

Now, nothing is perfect. On Saturday night, some voices seemed to be feeling the strain of weeks of shows and rehearsals, reflecting the no-doubt bruised bodies of the more physical performers.

But with expert staging, glittering costumes and a packed crowd hyped enough to cheer for a telephone ringing, there was really no way to lose.

The staging reached its zenith with Beauty School Drop-Out, Teen Angel's famed moment in the spotlight, where the character admonishes Frenchie (played by Anika Sparling and Arden D'Hont) for her life choices.

A lighted staircase descended from the roof as Mark Kilbride or Andre Corbeil (depending on the show) came down the steps from above the stage, to the laughs and gasps of the audience.

Now, only an ogre would say something mean about a high school play in a community newspaper; everyone knows that. But take it from a reporter who has seen (and participated in) his fair share of bad plays:

Grease rocked.

Period.