Lynden’s Score: 3.5 /5 Stage Slides
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical directly lifts the successful Jack Black movie and drops it onto the stage. This show has been a world-wide hit and is most definitely an entertaining evening. It does not break any new ground and for most of the show it does not have any huge emotional impact (there are some notable exceptions) but it makes up for any small shortcomings with loads of fun and talent.
Being a musical taken directly from a film there are a few limitations it has to grapple with. The show opens with a bang. Dewey’s rock band, No Vacancy’ is in full performance mode and we are the audience. It’s a great impacting opening although Act one struggles a little with pace from here on. This is primarily driven by the fact that there are a lot of scenes setting up the story and the characters with not a lot of catchy tunes to help it along. Act Two is where all the action and music take place and its pace races forward towards a great rock and roll ending.
This is a feel good show with a message – ‘let your kids explore who they want to be’. In delivering that message, it works perfectly. But it is all done in very broad strokes. None more evident that the adults. Parents are cliché characters. Over achieving parents, pushy parents and snobby parents all performed in a cartoonish extreme. I found it a little annoying but it will not even get noticed by the younger audience members. As for the pace and story, I am not sure a lot of under 10’s would stay focused through Act 1, over that age it is all down to attention span levels in the individual child.
Speaking of children. This is where the show shines. The talent of the cast is, yet again, extraordinary. We really do have a massive amount of young talent in Australia. With Matilda, Billy Elliot and now School Of Rock standouts in this area. The additional challenge of being able to play the instruments did not let down the performance abilities of the cast either. Cherami Mya Remulta (bassist), Zane Blumeris (guitar), Cooper Alexis (drums) and Jude Hyland (keyboads) all dominate their moments on stage. They love performing, they have talent and it shows. There is something magical about watching the kids rip through a drum, keyboard or a guitar solo. Deeanna Cheong Foo gave a great performance as Summer.
The show still needs one more piece to hold it together – Dewey. This is a tough role. The actor does not have the satisfaction of finding and creating a character, whether contractually or through social pressure the role must be a replication of Jack Black’s energetic, slob-with-heart character. Brent Hill slips into that skin with, seeming, ease. His energy and charisma holds the show together and saves it in its slowest moments. It is a massive role and this is reflected in the fact that the role is shared. It is hard to imaging topping that opening night role but Joe Kosky has that task.
The other standout performance is that of Amy Lehpamer as the strict, desperate-to-burst-out, Rosalie. The early scenes are stereotyped and controlled as the style of the show demands but when she is given a little room to move as in ‘Where Did The Rock Go‘ Lehpamer show the extraordinary talent that she has and wins the audience across in one song. From there she does not let them go. This is where the heart of the show is let out, in some of the more emotionally revealing songs. I would like to have seen a few more moments but when the emotion and feeling is released it is impacting. None stronger that the children’s number “If Only You Would Listen“. It comes straight after a scene with parents playing an overly clichéd moment. Joann M Hunter‘s choreography is controlled and perfect in this production but it is at its most strongest in this moment. She knows how to deliver the message. Stand still and sing. It is powerful. Elsewhere the power rock number “Stick It Too The Man” will get you on your feet and is one you will go home humming.
Overall this show is a great entertaining night out. Yes, there are pace bumps throughout Act One and some overly clichéd characters and moments scattered throughout but the joy of the production and the performance of Hill, Lehpamer and the lead children make it all worthwhile. It was also a lovely touch to invite the young cast that will perform on alternate nights to come on stage for a curtain call on opening night.
Lynden Jones – Theatre Now
10 Nov 2019 – 26 Jan 2020
Venue: Capitol Theatre
Theatre Company: Based on the hilarious hit movie, a new score from Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Julian Fellowes
Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, this includes an interval.
$69 – $205
Thur – Sat 7:30pm
Wed -7pm
Matinees: Sun & Wed 1pm, Sun 2pm
By Based on the hilarious hit movie, a new score from Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Julian Fellowes
Based on the hilarious hit movie, this ass-kicking new musical follows dropout Dewey Finn, a failed rock star forced to earn some extra cash by posing as a teacher at a prestigious prep school. But Dewey isn’t going to teach them algebra or arithmetic, oh no. These kids are going to learn what it takes to become the most awesome rock ‘n’ roll band of all time! But can his new group win the Battle of the Bands without being schooled by their parents and headmistresses, or will Dewey have to face the music?
