THEATRE REVIEW: School Of Rock - The Palace Theatre, Manchester.

There have been many Musicals written about famous Rock bands, using either original scores or those bands' more famous hits. There have been many Musicals about children and young people. There have been many Musicals about those children in select upper-class schools receiving the best education money can buy being influenced by the 'common' touch. I am not sure there has ever been a Musical before which effortlessly combines all these three elements into one simple feel-good show. Enter, 'School Of Rock'. Music by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and book by Julian Fellowes.

The story is age-old; twee, and utterly predictable. Just been thrown out of the Rock Band he had formed, and going nowhere in his life; fate lends a hand to Dewey Finn, as he masquerades as a supply teacher at a high class public preparatory school very much out of his depth. However he needs the money and somehow uses his knowledge and love of Rock Music to enthuse the children in his class, and together they form their own band (against the school's and parents' knowledge), and after winning over the headmistress, they perform at, and win, a large Rock Band competition. 

Most of the adults overacted like it were going out of fashion. Perhaps they were directed this way by Laurence Connor; who fashioned the whole of the Musical in a far-too-American-teen-comedy style. [think 'Wayne's World', 'Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure', etc]. Monodimensional, cardboard cut-outs of caricatures which we were completely unable to relate to or sympathise with in any way at all. The exception from this was Rosalie Mullins (performed by Rebecca Lock), who managed quite seamlessly to bridge that somewhat awkward gap between stock comedy caricature and real person. Her song in the bar in act 2, 'Where Did The Rock Go' was simply the highlight of all the adult performance on stage all evening. What I simply don't understand is why it had to be American at all. Both Fellowes and Lloyd-Webber are English, and the musical would work just as well, if not better, if it were set in an English prep school. Surely our British audiences would be able to relate to this easier and it would dispense with the seeming need to 'Americanise' the whole, as Connor was laying it on with a trowel in many instances. 

However, the show isn't really about the aduls, it's about the children. Sadly I am unable to credit by name the 12 youngsters who graced the stage this evening, but they simply made the show. Without them, there would be no show. They were, in a single word, incredible. Unfortunately, all I can say is that these 12 tweenies (is that still a word?), outacted, outsang, outperformed all the adults absolutely hands down! We were shown 12 individuals, with real and believable personalities and characteristics; we emoted with them, we cared for them, and we went on the journey with them. They simply blew me and my companion away with the amount of energy, talent, and professionalism they displayed. Two very talented guitarists, a great keyboardist, and a young girl who absolutely knew her way around a drum kit; as well as super singers, dancers, etc... and they worked so well as an ensemble.

ADDENDUM: I have now been given the children's names. They are: 
Eva McGrath (Freddy), Marikit Akiwumi (Katie), Oliver Forde (Lawrence), Joseph Sheppard (Zack), Riotafari Gardner (James), Inez Danielak (Sophie), Wilf Cooper (Billy), Florrie May Wilkinson (Summer), Souparnika Nair (Tomika), Caelan Wallington (Mason), Elodie Salmon (Marcy), and Kyla Robinson (Shonelle). 

The whole show was headed by Dewey Finn (performed this evening by Alex Tomkins), an adult juvenile delinquent who wins the class over and heads the band. Tomkins invested his all into his performance this evening, no doubt acting as directed. For me it was, as I have already commented, false and OTT; but that doesn't diminish his talent, energy, commitment, and ability.

The sets were minimalist and acceptable, as was the lighting design. We could see the props and cast in the wings prior to coming on stage. 

But even if it is a banal story, you simply cannot help getting swept away with the "haven't-I-heard-that-melody-somewhere-before" music of Lloyd-Webber, and the amazing super-talent of 12 extraordinary young performers who all have an incredible career ahead of them! This School Of Rock, rocks!

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 4.1.22