*
Review from 5D Music writer, Maria Robertson of the hit musical at His Majesty’s Theatre, Tuesday 15th February 2022
*
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s children liked the movie School of Rock, from 2003, as much as my family apparently; and eventually persuaded their Dad to watch it. He immediately set to transforming it into a stage show, and this is a very good thing indeed.
*
It’s always worrying when something changes medium, especially when you love the original. Could someone other than Jack Black really play the lovable but ridiculous Dewey Finn? The story has not changed at all, its still about Dewey failing as a musician and being at the end of his tether but determined to reach his dream of a rockstar, any way possible. When he stumbles into a substitute teacher role and finds himself with a room full of talented children his schemes develop further and he enters them into the Battle of the Bands.
It’s a marvellous storyline with the underlying theme of characters needing to be heard – whether its the wannabe rockstar, the pressured head teacher or the youngsters with busy parents who have high expectations.
*
*
The sets are almost as fantastic as the performers – and Sir Webber assures us at the beginning that the children are all really playing those instruments, its all live and real (except his pre-recorded message ironically!). Verity Naughton, the Children’s Casting Director, must have worked very hard as they are tremendous (and so inspirational to the guitar playing son who accompanied me!). Many of the songs are straight from the movie such as Stick It To The Man and Math Is A Wonderful Thing, some didn’t make it such as Step Off, and others were written specially for the musical such as If Only You Would Listen. It comes together wonderfully, and emotionally, as they all fight to be heard in whichever way they need.
*
Rebecca Lock is outstanding as Rosalie Mullins the headteacher and I especially enjoyed the scene in the bar where she sings Where Did The Rock Go? Another musical exclusive song which may have resonated with “those ladies of a certain age” such as myself – although I have fought hard to keep the music in my own life, not too keen to let the drum beats leave my veins.
*
*
The children were all fantastic, not only acting well but singing and playing instruments to a breath taking level. They all are their characters and they all work so very well together – interacting as school mates as well as in the band. I utterly would go along if they were to do an actual concert – and as Dewey says “I believe the children are our future”, although I think he may have stolen those words as much as he stole Ned’s teaching job!
*
Further information: School of Rock The Musical | UK TOUR
*
Maria Robertson is the newly anointed Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
*
Liked, loved, disliked, agreed, disagreed with this feature?…….We always love to hear from the foolhardy souls who read articles on the website and/or listen to the podcast so feel free to send any views, comments, questions, criticisms (hopefully not, but if so…..well, bring them on 💪)!
Likewise, any outright public proclamations of love and adoration are always welcome in the comments sections in any website articles or directly via the ‘contact us’ section here on the website.
If you’d like to receive notifications of other groovy articles such as this then we’d be honoured if you would subscribe (For Free) to the website…..just go to the home page and do that thing (no, not THAT, it’s rude) in the ‘Subscribe to keep up to date with 5D’ section!
*