If you enjoyed the hit 2003 movie School of Rock starring Jack Black, you probably know it was adapted into a Broadway musical in 2015. A touring version of the highly entertaining musical opened last night at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto.
Although some of the songs from the movie remain, the stage show also has fantastic new songs by Andrew Lloyd Weber, including the memorable and very catchy "Stick it to the Man," which you may find yourself still humming as you exit the theatre.
The plot is much the same as the movie -- Dewey Finn (played by Merrit David Janes) is a guitarist in a band called No Vacancy. Unfortunately, his antics get him kicked out of the band, and he's forced to bunk with his friend, Ned (Tim Shea) and Ned's nagging girlfriend, Patty (Madison Micucci), who wants Dewey to pay rent or get out.
When Dewey answers the phone and is mistaken for Ned, who's being offered a substitute teaching job at a prestigious private school, Dewey decides to impersonate him to get the money that's being offered so he can pay his share of the rent. However, not having any interest in children or teaching, he not only arrives late at school on the first day, but with a hangover. He's also a terrible teacher -- that is, until he realizes the kids can play musical instruments.
He begins grooming them for the Battle of the Bands competition that No Vacancy is competing in and along the way, he and the kids discover a mutual respect and admiration for each other.
The children in this show are outstanding -- each and every one of the 12 kids who play the students bring an enormous amount of energy to the stage. Mystic Inscho, who plays guitarist Zack, stood out among the young cast, not only for his amazing talent with the guitar, but for his remarkable stage presence.
Leanne Parks as Katie the bass player also captured extra attention with her cute "bass face" and her energetic personality. Grier Burke plays Tomika, who seems unhappy and uninterested in what's going on during the first act, although she shows gusto during musical numbers. We find out why in the second act -- she's upset because she doesn't have a role in the band. When Tomika finally gets the courage to sing, belting out "Amazing Grace," her powerful voice gave me goosebumps.
As Type A student Summer, who yearns for gold stars, tiny Sami Bray gave it her all, stealing scenes left and right. She was such a powerhouse that I predict she'll one day be playing the title role in the musical Matilda. And Cameron Trueblood, who plays Freddy, not only played his role with energy to spare, but his drumming ability was incredible for someone so young.
As Dewey, Merritt David Janes has to match the children's energy, and as the show progresses, he does just that. By the time he and the kids have formed a band, we finally begin to root for slacker Dewey. In fact, all the adults threw themselves into their roles. It's easy to be overshadowed when there are so many talented children onstage, but Lexi Dorsett Sharp as Principal Rosalie Mullins had a chance to shine in a scene in which she and Dewey meet at a bar.
Speaking of that scene, as an audience member you realize when you attend a live performance that things could go wrong. As the scene opened on the bar, a hanging set piece was lowered too far, nearly coming down on Merritt David Janes. A complete professional, he welcomed Rosalie to the bar with a big grin, as he tried to get out from under it. Unseen stage hands were undoubtedly backstage trying to lift the piece up to where it was supposed to hang, but the curtains quickly closed and there was a 10-minute pause as the set piece, which must have been stuck, was raised.
When the curtain opened again, it was as if nothing had happened as the show went on. Kudos to the two lead performers (David Janes and Dorsett Sharp) who were onstage when it happened for not being thrown by the incident and still turning in incredible performances -- the scene was extremely entertaining, giving us a glimpse into Rosalie's personality as she sings a powerful solo titled "Where Did the Rock Go?"
School of Rock offers an extremely entertaining night at the theatre for all ages -- there were plenty of kids in the audience on opening night who seemed to really enjoy the show, sometimes even calling out in excitement as scenes played out onstage.
The musical runs to January 6, 2019 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Click here for more information and/or to buy tickets.
Sounds like a great musical. I'm glad it's playing through Christmas, I may take my kids to that.
Got my tickets! Great fan of the movie and of course A.L.Webber...so looking forward to it and watching another one of his "King Midas Touch" productions. Just hope no more hanging set pieces come down at our show.....but that is completely understandable....it is live and anything is possible so have to expect the unexpected and put yourself in the live actors's shoe to appreciate such talent..as the show must go on. See you all there!
Just so you know the technical glitch is either a gag or something they’re having issues with still. It wasn’t a 10 minute delay but much shorter. They resumed the show immediately. I would reach out to Mirvish to find out what happened. Incredible show perhaps better than the movie but definitely should be seen as equally so.