School of Rock

 Class is Session – Make some Noise

Last night saw the Sunderland Empire Gala re-opening night and there could have been little doubt that choosing School of Rock was the best show to celebrate with.

Packed to the rafters, the theatre rocked as one as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage production of the 2003 Richard Linklater / Jack Black movie blew away any feelings of uncertainty and shone the bright spotlights back on the good times.

Led by Jake Sharp as Dewey Finn (reprising his role from the West End production) and joined by Rebecca Lock (Curtains) as Rosalie Mullins, Matthew Rowland as Ned Schneebly and Nadia Violet Johnson as Patty Di Marco, the stage was set for the adults to play second bill to the amazing cast of rock kids.

The story is one of Dewey Finn, wannabe rock god but actual sponger who dreams more than he delivers and is always looking to blame ‘The Man’ for his downfalls.  On a chance opportunity, Finn cons his way into a supply teacher role at a prestigious prep school and, throwing their curriculum out of the window, proceeds to teach the kids all he knows about rocking out and sticking it to the man.

The kids welcome this change in approach and, using their already considerable talents, begin to form Finn’s newest rock band, initially believing this was all part of the school system.  Ultimately, their/Finn’s aim is to win the Battle of the Bands, an open mike competition in a rock club but to do so, Finn must persuade principal Mullins that he should be allowed to take his class on the required ‘field trip’.

Jake Sharp is an amazing performer – channeling the mania of Jack Black, adding in a little John Belushi and then wrapping it all in great singing and brilliant guitar playing, his Dewey Finn is a lovable loser who frustrates as much as he excites.  Rebecca Lock, as principal Mullins, provides the starched counterpoint to Sharp, a locked box of repressed emotions, shouldering the burdens of the kids parents without any release valve until Finn shows her the way.  

Staying very true to the movie in both plot and many of the purpose written songs, the pace is relentless;  like all good rock albums it doesn’t let you rest before going into another great tune, all performed by the cast & band.  An opening announcement confirming that the kids all play their own instruments just serves to create even more awe at how amazing their performances are and all done with genuine enjoyment and masses of energy.

The only slight on this amazing night was that, due to an evacuation right after the last main musical number, the amazing cast were not able to receive the undoubtedly massive ovation they would have had at the final curtain – such a shame but if ever there was a great reason to go and see if again, this is it.

School of Rock is at Sunderland Empire until Saturday 9th October

Curtains, the Musical Murder Mystery

Set in 1950’s Boston, Curtains follows the story of a pre-broadway musical whose cast and crew suffer the trials and tribulations of not only the murder of their leading lady on opening night, but the subsequent twists and turns of the resulting investigation.  Set against the backdrop of ‘Robbin Hood’ a musical western, this play within a play (or more accurately, a musical within a musical) is as much about the saving of the show as much it is about the murder mystery.  As the detective leading the investigation puts the whole theatre on lock down, relationships fray, pressure rises and fingers are pointed.  There are plots and subplots galore, some very clever and funny musical numbers and no shortage of jokes.

From the opening bars you can hear the refrains of Kander & Ebb classics such as Chicago and Cabaret but this is much more than simply another of the same.  Director Paul Foster has made sure this lesser known show stands on its own; it has a familiarity which immediately makes it accessible yet has enough in reserve to maintain intrigue and a freshness to encourage repeat viewings.

Jason Manford (known recently for Scarborough on TV and The Producers and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on stage) plays the lead character of Detective Frank Coiffi, a wannabee thespian and amateur musical theatre star who has as much input into resurrecting the stricken show as he does in solving the crime.  Manford holds his character perfectly, part Columbo, part Poirot with a pretty decent Boston accent to boot.  He revels in the musical elements, giving us a chance to hear a great voice and some pretty nifty dance moves and, as one would expect his comic timing is impeccable.

Playing opposite Coiffi, in the role of Georgia Hendricks, the show’s lyricist who is thrust into the limelight following the untimely death of the original lead, is Carley Stenson.  No stranger to musical and comedy theatre, Carley lights up the stage regardless of whether it’s her scene or not – she has a wonderful, powerful voice and, as seen in the finale to act 1 number ‘Thataway’ is a very adept dancer to boot.  Her duets with Andy Coxon as Aaron Fox, her on stage writing partner,  are simply magical.

Two other standout performances are Rebecca Lock as show producer Carmen Bernstein and Samuel Holmes as show director Christopher Belling.  Rebecca plays Carmen with strength, style and plenty of sass, very reminiscent of the Mama Morton part in Chicago but with the Boston dirt under her fingernails.  

Samuel Holmes however, is totally English and because of that he can get away with pretty much anything.  His Belling is acerbic, driven, suffers no fools and knows that, despite anything on the bill, HE is the real star of the show.  Totally captivating and utterly charming.

Packed full of musical numbers this is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Darlington to see the early stages of what is destined to be a smash hit.  Curtains has already announced it will soon transfer to the West End at the Wyndham Theatre so there’s no better time to grab a ticket and enjoy some brilliant 5 star comedy musical murder mystery.