LONDON
London Theatre :
SCHOOL OF ROCK
THE MUSIC IN A MUSICAL SHOULD BREATHE LIFE INTO THE STORY , TURNING IT FROM AN INTERESTING TALE INTO SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL . THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER ’ S NEW MUSICAL SCHOOL OF ROCK DOES – IT ELEVATES A FUN STORY INTO SOMETHING NEW AND WONDERFUL AND EXHILARATING . BY SARAH GREEN
PHOTOS BY TRISTRAM KENTON
The music gives the story soul .
School of Rock , based on the 2003 film starring Jack Black , is all about seeing the best in people , breaking through barriers ( both real and imagined ), and discovering that music comes in many different forms , but no matter what , it bonds people together .
And that ’ s exactly how the audience feels by the end of this magnificently entertaining show .
Dewey Finn is fired by his bandmates and , with nowhere to go , he steals his flatmate ’ s identity to get a supply teaching job in a posh prep school . He has no qualifications , no experience , and absolutely no idea what he is doing . Despite the unlikeliness of the premise , this story works . Yes , Dewey might be a nohoper , but he made it . He ’ s in . And so are we as we watch him . A slacker he may well be , but the audience is rooting for him from the beginning . He means well , he ’ s kind hearted , and most of all he loves his music with true passion . We can tell he ’ ll go far , but there will be obstacles in his way . Therein lies the beauty of this rollicking rock ‘ n ’ roll show ; we know it will all work out all right , but that doesn ’ t make us worry less about the characters .
There wouldn ’ t be a school without children , and these children are by far the most talented , impressive kids you ’ ll see . Before the show starts , a recorded voice ( which happens to be that of Andrew Lloyd Webber ) informs the audience that the children are all playing their own instruments live . Once you see the instruments – electric guitars , bass , drums , all the real rock ‘ n ’ roll stuff anyone could need – and the children playing them as adeptly as any rock star who has fifty years ’ experience would is mind-blowing . These children are in some cases tiny , and the guitars they carry tower over them , yet still they play .
Since all the music is played on the stage by the cast , it adds an extra element of enjoyment to the whole show . Great characters , a happily ever after kind of story , and superb live music gives this musical a lift that make it stand out from the others . It ’ s a special show , this one .
And the music itself … it ranges from pure rock to silky smooth ballads , all with that inimitable Andrew Lloyd Webber style , yet mixed with a familiar rock anthem theme that reminds us all of how much we ’ d like to rebel sometimes .
Dewey and the kids will win out in the end , and they will learn lessons – we know this from the start . But the audience learns something too , and therein lies the magic of School of Rock .
http :// uk . schoolofrockthemusical . com
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