School Of Rock – The Musical

When all the kids start to play their instruments ‘live’ midway in the first act the moment is “electric” and from that point on the show, which is already in high-gear, soars into the stratosphere. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical is simply euphoric, joyously anarchic, wildly funny and absolutely irresistible, and the best new musical we’ve had from the Lord in years.

Based on Richard Linklater’s 2003 movie which starred Jack Black, the musical retains three songs from the film and adds a more than respectable new score by Webber with some clever and astute lyrics by Glenn Slater. They’re all encased in a terrific book by Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes, who slyly and acerbically captures the mocking tone of the film.

As Dewey Finn, the substitute teacher who causes his fifth-grade students to find their inner-rock souls, Brent Hill is the total nerd package - a failed rocker and slob whose energy and talent time and again blisters the stage. Whilst he’s selling his world-domination of ‘rock’ to his classroom, he’s also a persuasive and liberating influence in a high-octane performance. Yes, there’s a touch of The Music Man’s smooth-talking Harold Hill about him, but the difference is his pupils really do have talent.

And what talent it is. On opening night the audience couldn’t get enough of Zane Blumeris’s Zack, who did a more than worthy job of channelling Hendricks on guitar, likewise Kempton Maloney’s brilliant turn as Freddy on drums, not to mention Remy Grunden’s Katie with her dirty bass riffs or Caleb Elbourne’s keyboardist sparkle. They were the show and everybody loved them.

Amy Lehpamer brought layers of depth to stitched-up school-principal and secret Stevie Nicks groupie Rosalie Mullins, impressing with her high-tessitura in Mozart’s “Queen of the Night”, but it was the lost-chances lament “Where Did the Rock Go?” that delivered on poignancy.

In a strong and talented cast Nadia Komazec shone as the bitchy and ball-busting Patti Di Marco,  John O’Hara gave the mouse-like Ned a quirky edge, but it was Chihana Perera’s Tonika who brought the house down with an a capella “Amazing Grace”.

Of Lloyd Webber’s new songs, “You’re In the Band” and “Stick It to the Man” are probably the most earworm-friendly, but “If Only You Would Listen” is the most perceptive.

Though Hill is the lynchpin and star of the show, it’s the pre-teen kids who astonish with their talent. They’re superstars!

Peter Pinne