REVIEW: The Lightning Thief - Second Star Youth Theatre

I deeply admire that a group of young performers can put together a full-length musical in just one week. Memorising lines, learning choreography, navigating microphones, and for some, stepping into their very first lead role. That takes courage. That takes teamwork. That takes heart.

Second Star Youth Theatre’s holiday production of The Lightning Thief was exactly that: heartfelt, ambitious, and full of young artists giving it everything they had. Based on the novel by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief follows Percy Jackson, a teenager who discovers he is the son of Poseidon. Thrown into the world of Greek gods and demigods at Camp Half-Blood, Percy must embark on a quest to retrieve Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods. Along the way, he learns that the very things that make him feel different might actually be his greatest strengths.

With a large and enthusiastic cast, the opening number burst to life with strong energy. From the outset, it was clear this group was committed. The plot of this show moves at lightning speed (pun absolutely intended), and while it can be tricky to follow every detail, I just enjoyed it for the vibes.

Jayce Parkin (Percy) anchored the show as our unconventional hero. I found Jayce to be a talented actor who puts a lot into the role. Slowing down dialogue in scenes will emotional moments to land even more clearly, especially in a show that moves at such a fast pace.

Ruby Rowe (Annabeth) delivered strong vocals, particularly in her big feature “My Grand Plan”. While pitch wavered at times, her clarity of articulation and confident stage presence stood out. There’s a solid leading-lady foundation there.

Isabel Notari-Markey (Grover) really dedicated herself to the sidekick role. With more experience, her confidence will definitely boost. Isabelle Harris (Sally) offered a very sweet vocal tone, with “Strong” living up to its name as one of the more musically secure moments. Harper MacGregor (Luke) impressed with a strong contemporary sound, particularly in “Put You in Your Place,” which featured fun battle-style blocking. It was one of the more theatrically cohesive numbers of the show. Mia Morrison (The Oracle), whose vocal performance in “The Oracle” cut beautifully through the space. A clear standout vocal moment.

Sacha Fleming (Mr D) gave consistently strong character acting. The cameo appearances from Nevayah Cullen (Ares), Ivy Harle (Poseidon), and Jeremy Sievers (Hades) added fun theatrical flair and helped bring the mythological world to life. Musically, “Killer Quest,” “Drive,” and “Son of Poseidon” were energetic highlights that showcased the ensemble’s stamina and commitment.

Directed and musically directed by Lauren McNamara, with choreography by Sonya Wyer, the production moved briskly. The plot of The Lightning Thief is dense, and while you don’t necessarily need to follow every beat, clearer diction and slightly slower pacing in dialogue would help storytelling land more easily. Microphone balance proved a bit challenging throughout the performance. A little tip for our budding performers: microphones amplify you. So giving clear, supported speech will carry further than shouting or pushing your voice into "screech mode". Costuming was simple and age-appropriate, fitting the tween-camp aesthetic of the show and allowing the performers to move comfortably.

This was a charming production, buoyed by courage and enthusiasm, which is often the nature of ambitious holiday youth productions. What stood out most was not perfection, but commitment. You could see young performers learning in real time, stepping into leadership roles, and supporting one another. The talent is clearly blooming here. Strong comedic instincts exist within this group, so I think leaning into either a more defined comedy or a more widely known title in future seasons could allow the performers to settle into material more quickly and confidently.

Youth theatre is about growth, courage, and finding your voice. And there was plenty of that on display here! Second Star Youth Theatre is a promising new presence in Brisbane’s youth arts community, and I look forward to seeing how they continue to develop.