THEATRE PREVIEW

JULY 2024 | Volume 241

 

School of Rock opens Theatre Under the Stars’ 2024 season with a bang, a flourish of power chords, and some screaming vocals. And a terrific young cast that, if there’s any justice, should keep Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl sold out all summer.

An adaptation of the 2003 movie with Jack Black, School of Rock the musical stays very true to the original, adding Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music and Glenn Slater’s lyrics, which score in three or four great numbers. At the heart of the show remain the character of Dewey Finn, the slacker rocker who turns pied piper, masquerading as a substitute teacher, and the private school kids whom he inspires to join him in a rock ‘n’ roll crusade.

When singer-guitarist Dewey (Colin Sheen) gets kicked out of his band for showboating, and threatens to get kicked out of the apartment of his friend Ned (Matthew Valinho) and Ned’s girlfriend Patty (Marija Danyluk) where he’s been crashing rent-free, he pretends to be Ned and gets hired as a sub at elite Horace Green Academy by tight-ass principal Ms. Mullins (Emma Love).

At first possibly the world’s worst teacher, Dewey gets inspired when he watches his junior high school-age students in their staid music class. He decides to put them in a band and teach them the gospel of rock. Besides Zach (Crosby Mark) on guitar, Lawrence (Fumi Okochi) keyboards, Katie (Myra Forrest) bass, and Freddie (Casey Trotter) drums, he makes bossy-smart Summer (Thailey Roberge) band manager, flamboyant Billy (Grayson Besworth) costumer, and delegates the other kids jobs running lights and sound, and acting as roadies.

Marcy (Alex MacIsaac), Shonelle (Ema Lake), and finally Tomika (Azaleah Korn) sing backup. The transformation of Tomika from painfully quiet and shy to an Aretha-like soul singer represents the way Dewey frees up these kids’ self-expression and gives them all a voice in their own lives.

Eventually, they’ll compete in a Battle of the Bands, melting their principal’s heart, winning over their overbearing parents, and blowing the audiences out of their seats in a musical-theatrical triumph.

Director Tracey Power has brought together a flawless ensemble, led by the truly charismatic lead of Colin Sheen. This guy can act and play and sing and MOVE. He has fantastic dynamism, which he transmits to the entire cast. The kids—genuinely young kids—are a revelation, led by Roberge’s Summer and Crosby Mark’s adorable guitar-god Zach. You get the distinct feeling that these kids—not just the characters but the young actors themselves—are having the time of their lives, and the feeling is contagious.

The adult actors don’t get upstaged either. Love’s Ms. Mullins has a beautiful soprano, Valinho makes a sympathetic Ned, and Danyluk’s Patty has great energy.

The standout songs include three rockers—“You’re in the Band,” “Stick It to the Man,” and the title song—plus the kids’ poignant plea to their parents, “If Only You Would Listen.” Music director Eliza De Castro’s 8-piece orchestra sweetens the band kids’ instrumental performances. The really excellent dancers are probably in CATS, the other TUTS show, but choreographer Matthew Rossoff has these kids rock out in ways that make you want to dance along.

John Webber’s lighting adds to the rock concert effect and director Power does an excellent job having her cast and crew change the highly mobile scenery without any loss of momentum on Jennifer Stewart’s set.

I love this show, Theatre Under the Stars at its best. Long may they rock!

 

 

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