The 2003 film of the same name sees Jack Black play Dewey Finn, a past it rock star who impersonates his friend. He becomes a substitute teacher at a posh private school, before entering his class into Battle of the Bands. As a teenager, I was more than a little obsessed with the film. The plot is ridiculously far-fetched but it's light-hearted fun and I saw it so many times that, at one point in time, I could quote it directly, word for word. So, it was with great excitement that I sat down to watch the musical version of School of Rock last week and in no way did it disappoint.
Having seen War Horse at the New London Theatre a number of times, I was a little wary of how this show would work in the space, but work it did! I particularly liked the placing of the parents in the audience during the concert scenes, making it seem like we really were part of the show, watching along with the children's family's.
And those children really were the stars of the show! Andrew Lloyd Webber announces at the start of the show that, yes, the children do indeed play their instruments live every single night. They are so ridiculously talented and it was a pleasure to watch them perform.
My favourite song also happened to be one sung by the children, 'If Only You Would Listen'. The scene starts with four of the children (Freddy - Noah Key; Billy - Archie Lewis; Tomika - Jasmine Sakyiama; Zack - Jake Slack), being ignored in various ways by their parents, just because they're being sent to Horace Green, a private school with a reputation to keep, doesn't mean they have a home life filled with happiness. During the song itself, in which the initial four lament what it would be like if their parents actually heard what they were saying and actually stopped to look at what they could do, I had goosebumps and, by the time the rest of the child cast had joined them on stage, I had tears in my eyes. As a teacher, this song resonated so much, having seen so many children with the same issues; something which is, unfortunately, more common than it should be.
Jasmine Sakyiama as Tomika, the shy pupil who just wants to be a singer, shone. During her Amazing Grace solo, you could hear a pin drop and when she reprises 'If Only You Would Listen', in a scene where they tell their teacher he was the only one who listened to them, I was in awe that someone so small could sing so powerfully!
The adults were also perfectly cast. David Fynn, as Dewey Finn, had Jack Black-esque qualities but still managed to make the role his own. Florence Andrews, Rosalie Millions, head teacher of Horace Green, was suitably uptight and I loved her solo, 'Where Did the Rock Go?' as she realised that her job had stripped away some of her old identity.
The finale sees the parents finally realise just how talented their children really are, if not without a little drama in the way of Dewey being found out and the kids going missing from school, all on parent's night! The most touching moment coming from Zack and his dad (Andy Rees), when the latter finally says he's proud of, and loves, his son. It's just a shame it took his son running off to perform in a concert for him to realise it!
My only issue comes from some of the staging choices, which caused some major restriction at certain points of the show from where I was sat, right at the end of the front row. I feel this could have easily been avoided. For example, a desk was placed at the corner of the stage during 'Stick it to the Man', the song sung on most TV appearances, meaning the centre of the stage, where the action was, was entirely blocked from view. The desk could easily have been placed further back or moved off entirely and nothing would have been affected.
However, all in all, this show provides the whole family with some feel-good entertainment and I defy anyone to leave the theatre without a smile on their face!
Having seen War Horse at the New London Theatre a number of times, I was a little wary of how this show would work in the space, but work it did! I particularly liked the placing of the parents in the audience during the concert scenes, making it seem like we really were part of the show, watching along with the children's family's.
And those children really were the stars of the show! Andrew Lloyd Webber announces at the start of the show that, yes, the children do indeed play their instruments live every single night. They are so ridiculously talented and it was a pleasure to watch them perform.
My favourite song also happened to be one sung by the children, 'If Only You Would Listen'. The scene starts with four of the children (Freddy - Noah Key; Billy - Archie Lewis; Tomika - Jasmine Sakyiama; Zack - Jake Slack), being ignored in various ways by their parents, just because they're being sent to Horace Green, a private school with a reputation to keep, doesn't mean they have a home life filled with happiness. During the song itself, in which the initial four lament what it would be like if their parents actually heard what they were saying and actually stopped to look at what they could do, I had goosebumps and, by the time the rest of the child cast had joined them on stage, I had tears in my eyes. As a teacher, this song resonated so much, having seen so many children with the same issues; something which is, unfortunately, more common than it should be.
Jasmine Sakyiama as Tomika, the shy pupil who just wants to be a singer, shone. During her Amazing Grace solo, you could hear a pin drop and when she reprises 'If Only You Would Listen', in a scene where they tell their teacher he was the only one who listened to them, I was in awe that someone so small could sing so powerfully!
The adults were also perfectly cast. David Fynn, as Dewey Finn, had Jack Black-esque qualities but still managed to make the role his own. Florence Andrews, Rosalie Millions, head teacher of Horace Green, was suitably uptight and I loved her solo, 'Where Did the Rock Go?' as she realised that her job had stripped away some of her old identity.
The finale sees the parents finally realise just how talented their children really are, if not without a little drama in the way of Dewey being found out and the kids going missing from school, all on parent's night! The most touching moment coming from Zack and his dad (Andy Rees), when the latter finally says he's proud of, and loves, his son. It's just a shame it took his son running off to perform in a concert for him to realise it!
My only issue comes from some of the staging choices, which caused some major restriction at certain points of the show from where I was sat, right at the end of the front row. I feel this could have easily been avoided. For example, a desk was placed at the corner of the stage during 'Stick it to the Man', the song sung on most TV appearances, meaning the centre of the stage, where the action was, was entirely blocked from view. The desk could easily have been placed further back or moved off entirely and nothing would have been affected.
However, all in all, this show provides the whole family with some feel-good entertainment and I defy anyone to leave the theatre without a smile on their face!