On & Off Broadway

‘School of Rock’

Reviewed by Elyse Trevers

Posted

The news of the world is depressing and how can it not be? Raise your spirits at School of Rock, the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on the 2003 movie directed by Richard Linklater. If you enjoyed the film, especially Jack Black's frenetic performance as Dewey Finn, the wannabee rocker who is kicked out of his own band, you will be charmed by Alex Brightman in the stage role along with his pre-teen rock band. Having lost his job and in jeopardy of being kicked out of his best friend Ned's apartment, he takes a substitute teacher job posing as Ned. He reports to a snotty private school where the kids are programmed to succeed in order to attend prestigious colleges. At first totally disregarding academics, Dewey tells the kids that they will have an extended recess. Later when he hears them playing classical music with their principal, Miss Mullins (the talented Sierra Borgess), he realizes that he has found his new band, albeit a young one.

Dewey is aghast when he learns that the kids know nothing about rock music. Instead of scholarly subjects, the children begin to learn all about rock music, rock history and musical icons. More importantly, Dewey listens to them and encourages their creativity and self-esteem. The new student, silent Tomika (11 year old Bobbi Mackenzie, a youngster with an impressive sound) "finds" her voice. Zack (Brandon Niederauer, the adolescent guitar phenom making the rounds of all the late night TV talk shows) and Freddy, the drummer, (Dante Melucci) begin to express themselves. Dorky Lawrence (Jared Parker) becomes "cool" as Dewey builds his self-esteem as bass guitarist. The group has back-up singers and roadies and the obnoxious over- programmed Summer (delightful Isabella Russo) is the group's manager. The kids are wonderful, natural and extremely talented. In the introduction before the show, Webber assures the audience that the youngsters are really playing all the music themselves.

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