Reviewed by The Magic Hatter
On a rare visit to old London town, Mrs Hatter and I took in School of Rock at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
Inspired by the 2003 movie starring Jack Black, the film has been transformed into a fully-fledged musical that first opened on Broadway in 2015, and in London in 2016.
Rock n’ Roll Lifestyle
For those that haven’t seen it, the plot sees struggling musician Dewey Finn steal his friend’s substitute teacher post to masquerade as a teacher at elite private school Horace Green. Soon seeing past the achievements, gold stars and snobbery, he realises the pupils have musical talent and coaches them to secretly compete in rock-off Battle of the Bands.
A cat-and-mouse game follows, as Dewey tries to keep the project a secret, along with his real identity and lack of teacher-training.
The score features most of the original songs from the film plus many that are new to the musical, penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater. Highlights for us were the insanely-catchy Stick it to the Man and You’re in the Band. Audience participation is encouraged at points, and the show often looks and feels like a rock concert. This raises the roof and is the epitome of feel-good entertainment!
Rarely for a West End show, photographs were encouraged during the finale which is why I’m able to share some here.
Comparisons to the film are inevitable, but thankfully our Dewey Finn – played by Jake Sharp – puts his own stamp on the character and plays the role with effortless likeability.
Whether bumbling through his lessons at Horace Green or trying to realise his dream as a rockstar, he is warm and engaging and with a natural flair for rock. And boy can he sing! Cool to the kids but a loser to the rest of the world, the audience are rooting for him to succeed.
Dewey’s old bandmate Ned (Alan Pearson) and partner Patty (Michelle Francis) bicker over Dewey’s behaviour but have a great on-stage chemistry. As the hen-pecked boyfriend and impatient but ultimately supportive girlfriend, they add extra comic relief.
The Kids Are (Better Than) Alright!
A special mention must go to the younger cast members…these kids ROCK! Many of the child performers are actor-musicians, and with not a whiff of stage-school melodrama. They sing, they dance, they act and – verified in a voiceover by Andrew Lloyd Webber – they play their own instruments.
On top of remembering their cues, notes and lines, they are also responsible for helping with scene changes, often moving scenery and set elements into position. An arduous task, but they work well together as an ensemble and it is clear they are loving every minute. Unlike some other musicals with children, the performances here feel real and believable, and the skill throughout is astounding.
Stickin’ it to the Man
Family friendly? That depends on the family! Parents should note that the show features some colourful language (albeit infrequently), and a theme of rebelling against ‘the man’ – who often takes the form here of teachers, grades and the establishment. Many children were in the audience, but from what we could tell these were in the older age range. The show is generally not recommended for below five years old.
London theatre is notoriously expensive but I wouldn’t single out this show as being one of the worst offenders. Whilst talking to friends in theatre, we found a new show in town is charging £200 a head for stalls seats – and these eye-watering rates aren’t even uncommon! School of Rock tickets range from £15 to £150, with a general average around £52.50 in the circle, and £77 to £150 for stalls. Not a cheap treat, and the value rating at the end of this review is based on London prices.
Programmes are on sale at £5, along with show merchandise and the usual ice-creams, snacks and a fully-stocked bar.
I Know It’s Only Rock n’ Roll, But I Like It…
On this blog I mainly review magical family experiences, so would I say it was magical? Although we saw it over Christmas this is not a pantomime or a fairytale, or even traditional theatre. It’s part-musical, part rock concert but brimming with quality and high production values. The real magic here is in the talented cast – particularly the children – along with a live band and hardworking crew. Through theatrical magic the stage is transformed into a classroom, a bar, a bedroom, a living room, a concert hall and more, with each change smooth and seamless.
The atmosphere is electric, the talent immense and the feel-good-factor goes right up to 11! The show is a testament to the entire creative team.
In short…it ROCKED!
HATTER’S HINTS
- Discounted tickets may be available elsewhere, but always use reputable companies and not ticket touts. Always check to see whether cut-price tickets are for ‘restricted view’ seats
- Booster cushions are available from the Front of House team, to help younger audience members see
- Not seen the film yet? Wait until after you’ve seen the musical!
QUALITY 
VALUE FOR MONEY 
OVERALL 
Tickets can be booked online at https://uk.schoolofrockthemusical.com
Review Wizard 