School of Rock - Gillian Lynne / UK Tour

I saw SCHOOL OF ROCK on Thursday evening (3rd August). Whilst the show is not going to change the world, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

When the project was first announced, I felt that Andrew Lloyd Webber was just the wrong composer for it. For me, it needed a more modern, up-to-date composer, with a pop-rock sensibility. Someone like Tim Minchin for instance. However, I am glad to be proven wrong. I do prefer my Lloyd Webber scores lush and romantic, a I feel that this is where he excels, but his score here is fantastic, and certainly as dynamic as his one for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. The songs develop story and character without being cloying or sentimental. I have had them in my head for days, and been playing raw Broadway Cast Recording non-stop!

The book is genuinely funny, probably more so than the original film. It has all the key moments from the film, but builds on them, and has its own moments of hilarity.

The staging and direction is simple, but very effective. It is performed with absolute gusto by the entire cast. The energy and attack made the show super snappy and slick, and it didn't drag once. The role of Dewey (performed I think by Stephen Leask at my performance), must be absolutely exhausting with the amount of energy that is required. It is not a role that can be "phoned in". Stephen was excellent (even if it is just a Jack Black impression). However, the show really flies when the child cast performs on their instruments, elevating it beyond just a good night out. I don't know whether it is me just getting more sentimental as I get older, but I did find it quite emotional when they all performed together on their instruments.

Some slight negatives, would be the occasional veering off into pantomime. I know this is primarily a show aimed at children, but did not feel this was necessary. I found the awful stereotype of the gay parent particularly uncomfortable. In this day and age, should this really be how such things are put across? It was just there to get a quick laugh, and unacceptable. I could be thinking to much into it though. Some of the roles are also criminally underwritten (such as Patty played by Preeya Kalidas).

Overall though, a thoroughly entertaining evening, and I would definitely go again.

4 stars.

Regarding the sterotyping of the gay parents, are we not allowed to portray stereotypes any more then? Because if not the whole darned show would have to be changed because they're ALL stereotypes. 

Or is it just the gays we're afraid of offending? Are we not allowed to reflect the fact that there are some very camp fellas in this world, and yes some of them will be bringing up children?

And what about the flamboyant kid in the show who likes the sparkly clothes? How's that for stereotyping? No-one ever mentions that.

When the only portrayals of gay people were camp stereotypes then it was a problem. Thankfully times have changed, and I think we've reached a point where a camp stereotype is fun occasionally.

i really dont think times have changed. On TV the majority of gay characters are still a stereotype and musical theatre certainly uses them for cheap laughs.

^ Our Burly detests Mormon with a passion, so maybe not the best example to use to persuade him!!

No need to persuade me, I think me and showtoones agree. 

I do despise BOM though 

Turn it off Burly...like a light switch

I really do, but will I regret starting you off? 😂

Stick you finger in the air angry say "Hasa Diga Ebowi" and curse his rotten name!!

I might be wrong, but when I saw the show on Broadway, I think Dewey said "Uargh, my least favourite composer" when the girl sang Memory.

It got a surprising amount of laughter when I went. It surprised me how many people got it.