I was so excited on Saturday night to find myself (and an equally excited audience) sitting at Hull New Theatre waiting for School of Rock The Musical to start.
It was my first time in a theatre since the very first lockdown and I was more than ready for live theatre once more.
You may remember School of Rock from the 2003 film starring Jack Black, who plays Dewey Finn, an amateur rock enthusiast, who slyly takes up his friend’s job by posing as a substitute teacher at a private school.
Bearing no qualifications for it, he realises that the kids all have musical talent, albeit classical, he teaches them to play rock and enters them into a ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition he has been desperate to win.
Just how does ‘Sir’ convert these uptight kids into relaxed rockers?
With a teaching skill they have never seen before, one-by-one, he gets the kids enthused about the different music and excited to play in the ‘Battle’ with each child allocated a role.
School of Rock is an ideal family musical that is witty, charming and a lot of fun!
There are some great comic moments about flipping a cello to play bass guitar and calling the swotty pupil ‘Hermione Granger’. There are lots of updated cultural references since the 2003 film, and jokes at both adult and child level which makes this show perfect to take the whole family to.
The music in this show is superb, which you would expect from Lord Lloyd-Webber.
The hairs on my arms stood up as the very talented kids in the cast came on stage and sang their school song with perfect harmonies. It reminded me of the pride in my old school song of years ago.
As the show progressed into ‘rock’, the kids showcased their musical talent playing rock guitar, keyboards, drums and singing. It wasn’t dubbed either, the cast really is that talented! The audience were treated to some fantastic tunes, and were foot tapping and clapping throughout.
Supporting this talented group of kids was an equally talented group of adults, but it was the kids and Jake Sharp’s Dewey who stole the show.
Would I go and see this again? You bet I would. It was a great evening’s entertainment. It’s on at Hull New Theatre all of next week. You definitely need to catch it before it moves on.
