The fashion for turning eighties films into stage productions continues with this version of the popular movie The Karate Kid.

On one of the hottest nights of this spring so far, the prospect of sitting through a story in Leeds’ Grand Theatre that I was unfamiliar with wasn't an enticing prospect – how wrong my assertion turned out to be. The Karate Kid is a musical that is gripping, entertaining and, above all, strikes a chord that is entirely relatable.

The storyline initially is a predictable one. Daniel (Gino Ochello) and his mother Lucille (Sharon Sexton) move from New Jersey to California as she starts a new job. Daniel meets the young and vivacious Ali (Abigail Amin), who sees in Daniel something that no one else does. They strike up a romantic relationship, though lurking throughout is Ali’s ex, the controlling and abusive Johnny (Joe Simmons). Like a pantomime rogue, Johnny lurks in the background, always ready to cast his evilness.

Add to that the thoughtful, wise, and controlled Mr Miyagi (Adrian Pang), the elderly maintenance man who looks after the apartment block that Daniel and his mother have moved into, and you have a set of characters that are allowed to develop as the storyline continues. Whilst Mr Miyagi might seem more concerned with maintaining his bonsai tree and catching flies with a set of chopsticks, there is far more to him than meets the eye – his karate skills become the focus as he teaches Daniel how to fight back against the controlling and abusive Johnny, and the relationship between Mr Miyagi and Johnny seems genuine and strong, becoming the backbone of the musical.

Just when you thought things were moving along pleasingly, the mood takes a momentous turn with the introduction of the leader of the Cobra Kai Karate Club – John Kreese (Matt Mills). Portraying the head of the Karate club, Mills was superb as the stern and intense coach whose commanding figure was one that you would not argue with. As he debuted alongside the rest of his pupils to perform the energetic musical number Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy, the question of why Mills is not better known as a singer became increasingly relevant as the evening unfolded, as he has a commanding and soulful voice that would lend itself to any discerning dance or pop music song.

Another standout moment came in the second half: Sexton’s duet with Ochello, If I Could Take His Pain Away – an emotional duet where both shone in a believable rendition. In a musical where many of the songs are not that memorable or recognisable, these were the musical highlights along with Who I’m Going To Be, performed by the charming and joyful Amin, who brought to the role as Ali a youthful exuberance.

The choreography by Francis Florendo was tight, mixing karate and dance moves that never seemed out of step.

The underlying story is one of good against bad and the rivalry not just between Daniel and Johnny but also between the controlled John Kreese and the older and wiser Mr Miyagi, though if you guess who the eventual winner might be, you will probably be right.

Despite the musical being performed on a hot spring night, The Karate Kid – The Musical still delivered a hot kick that will keep audiences on their toes.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

The Karate Kid – The Musical Leeds Grand
Runs until Saturday 30th May
It then tours to:
Liverpool Empire Theatre 2- 6 June
Sheffield Lyceum 7 - 11 July
Sunderland Empire 14 - 18 July