School of Rock The Musical

School of Rock Is a rock musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellows and is based on the 2003 film of the same name. The story tells of Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star who is down on his luck. After Dewey is kicked out of the band No Vacancy, his fortunes turn for the better when he intercepts a phone call meant for his flatmate, Ned Schneebly. He quickly decides to make a bit of cash and pose as Ned to take up a supply teaching post at Horace Green, a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight A pupils, who haven’t a clue about rock and roll, into a rock band and they enter the upcoming Battle of Bands competition. But can he get them to the competition without their parents and the school’s headmistress finding out?

The show was performed by the Youth Section of Bolsover Drama Group. Matt Alsop was magnificent as Dewey Finn. It is a huge role as he is rarely off stage and it demands such a great deal from an actor/singer and Matt was just ideal. He has such a natural stage presence and his dynamic and energetic singing of the many rock songs was just terrific. He had all the mannerisms and ‘moves’ of a rock star as he strutted around the stage. His interaction with the children was superb, he was a real source of inspiration and his kindly approaches to them was so delightful. He had great comic timing, his passionate mix of naivety and enthusiasm was so intense and so brilliantly executed and his energy levels were off the scale. It was a truly outstanding performance and you really did forget how young he is. Lydia North excelled as Rosalie Mullins, the Headmistress of the school. She portrayed the disciplined, respected and uptight persona of the character perfectly but also quite exquisitely showed the softer and more vulnerable side of the character so emotionally, when in the bar scene with Dewey. Her singing of ‘Where Did the Rock Go’ was stunning and those high notes she sang were just amazing. Their eventual ‘involvement’ was just lovely. Ned Schneebly, the friend and roommate of Dewey, was well played by Ben Johnson. His ‘guitar playing’ alongside Dewey was great until they were disturbed by Patty and then his whole demeanour changed, to show the meek side of the character which he portrayed splendidly. Sienna Alsop was perfect in the role of Ned’s girlfriend, Patty. She delivered the domineering, forthright nature of the character superbly but when she ‘shopped’ Dewey, she did get her comeuppance. The ‘School of Rock’ band members were great. Lawrence, on Keyboard, was played by Oscar Millar. He portrayed the nervousness and awkwardness of the character so well but his antics and super body movements, especially those flexible hip gyrations, were hilarious. Sonny Wallage was splendid as Zack Mooneyham and his guitar playing actions were spot-on as were those of Isobel Glidewell as Katie on bass. Her playing actions were not as obvious as those of Zack, but were just perfect for a bass guitarist. On drums we had Callum Tye as Freddie Hamilton and again he really kept up with the beat. Lily Ashley was excellent as Tomika, the eventual singer with the band. She portrayed the shyness, as a new girl in the school with no friends, so well but really blossomed when she came forward to say that she wasn’t a “backing singer, I am a singer” and then went on to prove it by wonderfully singing ‘Amazing Grace’. Olivia Mellor who became the Band’s Manager Summer Hathaway, was just that, she definitely ‘managed’, there was no messing with Olivia. The back-up singers - Leah Nicholas (Marcy), Sophie Ford (Madison), Daisie Mae Holloway (Shonelle) and Niamh Gotteri (Sophie) were excellent and Ella-Rose Burton and Emily Hall joined them in some of the dance routines. Morgan Watkinson as Billy Sandford, Jess Jansen as Macie Ward and Dexter Holloway as James were super and good support came from Karin Peterson as the Manager of Battle of the Bands, from Josh Jaffray as Stanley and from the band members of ‘No Vacancy’ - Olivia Jaffray (Theo), Chloe Thomas (Doug) Will Travel (Bob) and Eme O’Donnell (Snake). I would love to name the ten children who played ‘Other school children’ and the eleven who played ‘Teachers and Parents’ but it would just be a list of names, however, they all played a very integral part in the show and were all terrific. All the ‘up-beat numbers’ which included the students were so well sung and choreographed and so enthusiastically delivered they were just totally immersed and enjoying every moment none more so than in ‘Stick It to the Man’, which was top-notch. In contrast, the singing of ‘If Only You Would Listen’ by them to their parents, was so heart-felt and so movingly sung. 

There were so many different locations including a Music Room, an Assembly Hall, a Classroom, a Faculty Lounge, Dewey’s Bedroom, Hallways, a Roadhouse not to mention The Palace Theatre but all were so innovatively and creatively achieved. Set Constuction was by Ken Radmore and Mick Whitehouse. There was a permanent raised tiered structure to one side that was used in various settings and the rest were mainly achieved by the use of moveable screens, beautifully painted on both sides by Scenic Artists Andrew and Sabrina Aucock, and these became the main focus for most locations with good use being made of the gauze curtain. Some of the scenes were so short that the Stage Crew definitely worked overtime as no sooner were the ‘screens’ either turned or removed, through a sliding panel at the back, than they were back again, in situ, for the next scene. The two Janitors, Chris Peck and Mark North (who, as a Janitor, so hilariously introduced the show with the necessary notices) were appropriately attired and definitely deserved a medal for the number of times they moved those screens around and on and off the stage. I loved the little touch when the Janitors changed into ‘Bar Tenders’ clothing to set the scene for the Roadhouse. Overseeing the Wardrobe Department was Wendy Blunt but I did get a chance to speak to Angela Mitchell who was responsible for making the super school uniforms which were either tartan pinafore dresses or skirts, with white blouses and neck ties, in the same material, for the girls and the boys were in white shirts, grey tank-tops and ties. The making of these was a mammoth undertaking for the twenty three school children all being a different size, and all done without a pattern! I loved the additional accruements to the band when they went to the competition. The curtain call was very different with Dewey firstly asking if we were enjoying ourselves and then, so eloquently, introducing the cast. Excellent lighting, sound and props together with the wonderful sets and costumes all added to make this a wonderful and entertaining show - and I certainly, ‘Did Listen’!

Many congratulations to Director Donna Knowles, to Musical Director Wendy Blunt, to Group Musical Director and Keyboards Nigel Turner, to Choreographers Bethany Thomas and Chloe Thomas and to the awesome and so very enthusiastic cast. To the whole team at Bolsover Drama Group, I must say well done for encouraging and nurturing so many young people to enjoy being a part of the wonderful world of Musical Theatre. Lastly, my thanks for the very warm welcome I always receive when visiting the group.

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