School Of Rock, Auckland NZ, 2019

School Of Rock

3rd – 29th September 2019
The Civic, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Doug Peters.

When Andrew Lloyd Webber gets his hands on something, it is guaranteed that he will soon turn it to gold. And that is exactly what School of Rock The Musical is; pure gold.

Based on the 2003 film written by Mike White, Webber brought together some of the best on this production, Oscar winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes handling the book, while Grammy Award winner Glenn Slaters lyrics accompany Webber’s compositions.

The opening scene of the band No Vacancy strutting their stuff across the stage, looking like a hybrid of Steel Panther and Spinal Tap soon has the audience grinning from ear to ear as the beloved protagonist and eternal rock star at heart Dewey Finn starts to wind up on lead guitar with facials that bring the house down. Embodying a little Jack Black, a touch of Mike Myers and a whole lot of exuberance, Joe Kosky immediately won the audiences hearts as he presided over their funny bones.

While the musical has a rotating cast for some of its core members (Brent Hill also playing the part of Dewey) each and every performance regardless of who is on stage is a winner thanks to not only the amazing pool of talent, but breathtaking stage sets, musical numbers that you will be singing on the ride home and the sheer sense of joy that fills the room from beginning to end.

Following the source material, the audience watches as man-child Dewey gets fired from his band, and almost gets evicted from his best friend Ned’s flat thanks to Ned’s girlfriend Patty who makes it abundantly clear that she does not like Dewey, one little bit. And she certainly does not like the fact that he’s been living there rent free.

With only days to get the rent money together, Dewey fortuitously intercepts a call intended for Ned who just happens to be a substitute teacher; Dewey soon finding himself standing inside a classroom at Horace Green faced with the children of the 1%. His disinterest in actually interacting with any of them soon begins to change as the children’s musical talents emerge, Dewey hatching a plan to create a musical act with the kids so that he can reclaim glory at the Battle of the Bands.

If he can get past principal Ms Mullins first…

Embodying the austere look of the head of a private school in glasses and pencil skirt, Amy Lehpamer is a knockout as Ms Mullins, the award-winning actress soon showing off her vocal skills as she imparts the school’s philosophy during ‘Here at Horace Green’. Supported by a cast of teachers who move seamlessly across the stage as they interchange with each of the set pieces, Lehpamer often steals the scene with her authoritative tone and stern glances delivered from across the rim of her glasses. Her rendition of ‘Where Did the Rock Go?’ in Act 2 simultaneously allowing Lehpamer to bring forth the softer side of Ms Mullins while cutting loose with some powerhouse vocals.

Bringing further magic to the stage are cast members such as John O’Hara who plays Ned Schneebly with just the right amount of hen-pecked camp, courtesy of his devoted if iron-fisted girlfriend Patty played by the fierce Nadia Komazec. Even the ensemble cast who play the doting parents of Dewey’s charges add their own well-tuned and comical touch.

But unequivocally it is the kids who are the heroes of the show. Each and every single one of the dozen on stage displaying such mature ranges of not only vocal harmonisation, acting and choreography but for four of the key players – mastery of their instruments. From Bailey Landeg who plays Freddy the drummer with sticks of fire through to Remy Grunden (Katie) on bass guitar who pulls better rock poses than musicians twice her age; Jayden Tatasciore bringing the house down with guitar solo’s that would give his guitarist inspiration Angus Young (ACDC) a run for his money. The stunning Riley Thomas as Tomika seeing many in the audience brush a tear away from the corner of their eyes as her rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ sailed across the theatre with the greatest of ease, her voice one of the most significant instruments of the evening itself.

While the musical is an absolute triumph of family-friendly hilarity filled to the brim with toe-tapping song and dance, more importantly it delivers a message about acceptance, tolerance and the importance of listening to those who really do hold the future in their hands. Subtle retorts about equality in the workplace delivered with deadpan humour by the brilliant Stephanie Kipnis (Summer) whose youthful appearance hid an absolute lioness inside, adding more current themes to the original source material.

There is a power in music, and an even greater one in finding your own voice.

Were you there at The Civic for this magnificent movie adaptation? Or have you seen School Of Rock performed live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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