School Of Rock the Musical

Thank you for the warm welcome we received at The Majestic Theatre Retford. It was lovely to be back in Retford and to catch up with President Betty Teanby and Chairman Carolyn White.

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 Retford Musical Theatre Company, The MOB. The cast we saw were Dewey Finn played by Cameron Duffy, Rosalie Mullins played by Bethany Bailey, Patti DeMarco played by Elisha Lucas, and Summer Hathaway played by Anabella Pryce.

Cameron 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 Cameron was just right in the role. His dynamic stage presence and energetic singing of the many rock songs were just terrific. His chemistry with the other actors was really good too, and I loved his interactions with the pupils in the school. He had great comic timing, I kept forgetting how young he was to bring such a truly outstanding performance to the stage. (Not forgetting the hair-ography!)

Adwyn Roberts excelled as Rosalie Mullins, the Headmistress of the school. She portrayed the hard-pressed disciplinarian, respectable and uptight persona of the character perfectly but also quite exquisitely showed the softer vulnerable side of the character so emotionally. In the bar scene when she sang ‘Where Did the Rock Go’ I was stunned by her vocal work especially when the emotions come through.  

Mathew Heard and Elisha Lucas played Ned Schneebly and Patty Di Marco. Their chemistry was unmissable and especially the scene when Patty catches Ned and Dewey playing guitar hero. Mathew managed the demeanour change really well and we could feel Patty’s frustration during the scene. Later she delivered the domineering, forthright nature of the character superbly but when she ‘shopped’ Dewey, she did get her comeuppance. Both roles played excellently.

I learned that the actors, along with learning their lines and choreography took up the challenge of playing their instruments.  They had not played before and this dedication to their roles was unmissable. All the ‘School of Rock’ band members were great. Lawrence, on Keyboard, played by Nathan Bailey portrayed the nervousness and awkwardness of the character really well. Isaac Braithwaite was splendid as Zack Mooneyham and his guitar-playing actions were spot-on, as were those of Libby Larcombe 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 Darcy Parkin as Freddi Hamilton and again she really kept up with the beat. Cloe Veitch was excellent as Tomika, the eventual singer of 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’.

Anabella Price as Summer Hathaway became the Band’s Manager.  She definitely ‘managed’, there was no messing with Anabella. The back-up singers – Carys Pritchard (Marcy), Gia Moles (Madison), Hermione Footitt (Shonelle) and Charlotte Cooper (Sophie) were excellent. So much energy on stage and really got the audience singing and clapping along to their rock performance. The other children in the school joined them in some of the dance routines which I really enjoyed. The choreography was excellent and everyone was giving it their all.

The young people who played ‘Teachers and Parents’ were also really good, 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. I had tears in my eyes by the end.

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 design Becca White and Beth White made good use of the stage and everything was well lit. (Gary Kendrick lighting design.)  The Stage Crew definitely worked overtime with all the movable elements. Under the supervision of stage manager Richard Concannon.  Every member of the backstage crew definitely deserved a medal for the number of times they moved the pieces on and off so smoothly and so fast.  Overseeing the Wardrobe Department was Carolyne White. Everything looked well thought out and the contrast between the children and adults was well managed. I loved the additional accruements to the band when they went to the competition. The curtain call was very different with Dewey first 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 Beth White, to Musical Director Pete Lack, and to Choreographer Becca White to the awesome and so very enthusiastic cast. To the whole team at MOB, 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. 

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