School of Rock

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – School of Rock

Playwright/s/Composer/s – Book by Julian Fellowes, lyrics by Glenn Slater, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on the movie by Mike White.

Production Company/Theatre space – StoryBook Theatre, The Beddington Arts Centre

Length – 2 ACT, 2 hours 40 minutes (one 15-minute intermission)

Genre/s – Musical

Premise – When guitarist who has been kicked out his own band can’t pay the rent, he impersonates a substitute teacher, recruiting his students to compete in the Battle of the Bands.

Why this play? Why now? – Name recognition, and appropriate for a theatre that also teaches kids!

Curiosities – How could a model be set up so that shows like this could run for 6 months without violating child labour laws?

Notable Moment – The Hendrix wannabe’s solo turn.

Notable writing – The movie was the highest grossing musical until ten years ago. The musical opened on Broadway for over thirteen hundred performances, and it was also adapted for TV.

Notable performances –   Joe Rino who is an actual drama teacher at Bishop Carroll was perfect in the main role. He destroys the notion “those who can, do; those who can‘t, teach”. But sorry adults, the kudos for this show goes (once again) to the children. Many actors in Calgary would love to win an award and do a couple of shows at SBT and Theatre Calgary; Cecilia Currie has already done this, and she is grade 6. Zinhle Xenis has talent to spare and amazing grace. 14-year-old Rhys Mitchell-Lawrence is a self-taught musician in piano, bass, guitar and trombone. Aria Raju rocks on bass guitar, as does grade 9 drummer Nolan Dell and 11-year-old William Pawluk an electric Hendrix protegee. Gold stars to all the kids on stage.

Notable design/Production – Kris Mish resident Lighting Designer sparkles as usual and Wardrobe Designer Vanessa Taylor’s subtle changes in the school uniforms worked well. DeNeane Osmond set design wouldn’t have worked so well in a drama but with music to cover she was able to get away with that many set changes. Sound balance must have been interesting in the booth because singers like Kasandra Hut clearly don’t need a lav.

Notable direction – Director and Choreographer Stephan Dickson did a fantastic job.Musical Director Dan Perrott worked magic, especially with the a cappella and harmonies.

One reason to see this show – When the future Premier of Alberta takes time out of his busy schedule to see a kids show for the show and not to gladhand – you know it’s a winner.