Posted: 11/17/15 at 12:03pm
When Richard Linklater's film School of Rock debuted in movie theaters in 2003, I think it's safe to say musical theater fans saw the writing on the wall, a Broadway stage adaptation would be seen eventually...I mean it's basically a modern retelling of the Music Man at its core. Fast forward to 2015 and just as predicted School of Rock: The Musical is now in previews at the Winter Garden Theater....not shocking. What is a bit shocking is that it has new score (well, additional songs) by Broadway composing legend Andrew Loyd Webber. Yes, of course we all know Webber cut his teeth composing rock music for shows like Jesus Christ Superstar in the late 60's, but in the years since then his aesthetic seems to be far from the likes of Jimmie Hendrix. Plus, the days of the British Mega Musical are long gone, and unfortunately for Webber, so are tastes for most of his music (no shadiness intended, I'm a fan of his work). Who knows how he came to be interested in this title, but besides the obviousness of a musical adaptation I'm sure it has to do with the plain old commercial appeal.
School of Rock: The Musical is theater for tourists. And please don't mistake the meaning of my last sentence, I'm not saying it's bad, it's actually really entertaining, but a sophisticated night at the theater for sophisticated theater goers this is not. There is absolutely no hidden subtext in this material, no language or plot in which to ponder about the meaning of...it's simply put: for your entertainment only.
The show has all the boxes to check off when it comes to a big Broadway musical. The massive set by Anna Louizos is made up of large panels that side together from stage left and stage right to create everything from dewey's bedroom to the prep school hallway to the class room, to a local dive bar. For the battle of the bands, a mini stage with four lighting towers attached rotates allowing the scene to switch from on stage to backstage quickly. The effect is bloated and unimaginative. Her costumes are basically replicas from the film.
Natasha Katz lighting feels obligatory and trite with rock concert style spots used in almost every scene. Sometimes it just feels unfocused and gives off the quality of some other rock bands lighting plot being used for this musical. One wonders if this is her fault considering her brilliant work in other shows.
Joann M. Hunter's choreography is cute kid fare and more about group then actual dancing
The book by Julian Fellows (Downton Abbey, Godsford Park) is paint by the numbers and sitcom like with a laugh line seemingly thrown in every 30 seconds. But it also feels clunky transition wise...Julian doesn't really seem to have the musical in his blood. The direction by Laurence Conner, an associate of Webber and Cameron Mackintosh by way of his resume, is unimaginative and connect the dots like.
Andrew Loyd Webber's new score is simplistic. Easy melodies that run the gamut from 80's pop rock to choral music, to opera..yes opera. If you are looking for an original new score to obsess over, you won't find it here. It does the job for this story though. Glenn Slater's lyrics follow suit with easy well known hooks like 'Stick it to the Man". He takes the repetitious rock chant a little overboard.
Alex Brightman as Dewey is quite good...Tony Nomination good. In fact there is no show without him in my opinion. He makes you forget about Jack Black's famous performance. He is funny and real at the same time and truly inhabits a character as opposed to an impersonation. He sings the music with He is the reason to see this show.
Sierra Boggess as Rosalie (the head mistress of the prep school) is in my opinion the best we've every seen her on Broadway. She seems miscast at first, but by the end of the show you get her character as a former rock chick who lost herself in the buttoned up prep school. She show's off her opera chops as the more buttoned up side of her and her Stevie Nicks. Don't get me wrong, she is definitely playing a musical comedy character.
Spencer Moses as Dewey's best friend Ned is basically wasted for lack of things to do...his character is barely in the film. And Mamie Parris as Ned's over baring girlfriend is one note throughout the show...not necessarily her fault considering that is the only reason her character is in the show.
The child performers are all well cast...talented and cute enough to be in a broadway show about kids....but these roles are not like the ones from Billy Elliot and Matilda, where their quirks and talents are used to great effects....you could insert many broadway kids into these roles....unique isn't quite the word I would use.
The major problem with the show in my opinion is that School of Rock isn't an original musical. Let me explain. Right now, the show is a scene by scene recreation of the movie (no doubt contractually so for paramount pictures to protect its entity). This gives no room to musicalize moments that need it for character and plot development. Of course they've added songs to the show, but again they don't really do anything to add to the story except to find excuses for the cute child perfomers in the cast to show off their talents. If it had been original they could have taken the time to develop the characters which they haven't done. Without those moments it feels like a cliff notes version of the movie.
