By:
Emma B.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth article in a
series about musicals both the popular and the little known shows.
Recently, I was given the opportunity to see the musical School of Rock by Andrew Lloyd
Webber, live at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. This was a rare opportunity, so I
jumped at the prospect.
Now, it’s no secret that Andrew Lloyd Webber has written and
produced far more popular and more well-known musicals, so why is this one not
nearly as well-known as his other works? Is it because of the story or is it simply
because it’s newer than his other shows, more famous shows? The following is
what I discovered about this fun little musical.
The Plot and Characters
School of Rock follows the character Dewey Finn, an everyday
nobody who has been kicked out of the only thing he cares about, his band
called “No
Vacancy.” Furthermore, his best friend, who he’s been living with, Ned
Schneebly has a girlfriend named Patty who says that if Dewey doesn’t start
paying the rent he’ll be kicked out of the house too. When Dewey receives a
call from the principle of the prestigious Horace Green School that was
originally meant for Ned, he immediately pretends to be Ned in order to pay his
rent. Things only escalate further when Dewey, who goes by Mr. Schneebly for
the rest of the show, realizes his young students are musical prodigies. Dewey becomes
determined to shape up his students for a competitive battle of the bands and
win back his place in his old band.
The
plot of this musical is exceedingly simple and doesn’t have very many layers to
it. The main character’s personality and motivations are laid out in the first
act and they don’t go through significant change. This makes sense though, as
the musical is a comedy at heart. Keeping the plot simple, the musical is able
to get the audience emotionally invested quickly, allowing time for the humor
to shine. It also helps that many jokes and quips are very funny.
There
is a primary romance in the show between Dewey and the principal of Horace
Green, Ms. Rosalie Mullins. The two have several romantic scenes together and
despite those scenes feeling a tad rushed, they are very good. This musical is
very much built-off fast comedy but this is a minor criticism in the grand
scheme of the show as a whole.
The Technical Aspects
The show was a technical marvel. Everything that wasn’t a set, made
me feel like I was at a rock concert. The lighting was bright and vibrant which
only helped to support the upbeat tone.
The technical marvels especially pay off toward the end, during
The Battle of the Bands scene. At this point in the show, all of the tech is at
its maximum potential, making everything feel more intense. This only helps to
get the audience more excited; something that any good climax should be able to
do. I personally enjoyed seeing other audience members starting to head-bang at
the end of the show.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t bring up the talent of the
child stars. In the show, all the children in Dewey’s band play various instruments.
However, what most people don’t realize is that every single child actor
actually plays their instruments live. This means that every time a child actor
in the show rocks out on the guitar, they’re actually playing the guitar. This
aspect of the show is brilliant and goes a long way to making the experience
feel real.
The
Verdict
School of Rock is
the picture-perfect definition of a simple but enjoyable experience. The plot
and characters don’t have much depth or complexity but they’re not supposed to.
I think the show is simply a warm experience to brighten someone’s day.
So why is this musical not well-known? I think
this musical is not well-known purely because it’s newer than Andrew Lloyd
Webber’s other works. Which is a shame, because this play simply rocks.
To listen to a song from School of Rock click here.
If you would like to read more
about in our Theatre Thoughts series, click the links below.
Part 3: Theatre Thoughts - The Great Comet Of 1812 + Dear Evan Hansen & The Portrayal Of Mental Health In Musical Theatre
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