The Thames Civic Centre was rocking out on May 17, as Thames Music and Drama took the stage for the opening night of its rock musical School of Rock.
Set in a prestigious fictional school called Horace Green, the musical follows the story of Dewey Finn, a down-and-out rock guitarist. Dewey is strapped for cash and lies his way into a substitute teaching position – where he turns order on its head, bonds with his students through music, and finds new purpose in life.
The slacker-turned-educator was played by Ruth Germon, and she brought an excitable charm to the role. It’s a tough task to keep up the rock-star energy for two full hours, but Ruth’s Dewey didn’t lose pace as she belted out number after number. Initially loud and brash, she let Dewey’s softer side shine through almost immediately as the character brought each student out of their shell, finding that spark of talent within each and helping them shine.
And boy, did they shine! School of Rock might be about Dewey, but the show’s appeal lies in the youthful, energetic, and talented children’s ensemble. Thames Music and Drama has done a fantastic job here with their classroom casting.
Each student’s personality was on-point, from Billy the wannabe-fashionista to Summer the strait-laced, bossy teacher’s pet. Tomika, played by Lena Rumble, was a particularly high point of the show, busting out some impressive vocals at the beginning of the second act.
But it was the band members – bassist Cody, played by Elijah Lester; drummer Freddy Hamilton, played by Alzora Taylor; keyboardist Lauren, played by Chloe Bergersen; and lead guitarist Zack Mooneyham, played by Sophia Haakma – who really stole the show.
The quartet played their instruments live throughout the show, and pulled off some impressive vocals to boot. As Dewey’s new bandmates, their final performance at the Battle of the Bands was fun, energetic, and wouldn’t have been out of place at a real rock concert.
The cast was rounded out by a bevy of adults, who played the parents, teachers, and Dewey’s roommates.
These roles were solidly in the “supporting role” category, and through no fault of their own, the adult-centric scenes at the beginning of the show felt a little staid – their portions of the plot serving mainly to establish backstory and push Dewey and the students together.
However, it gave the rebellious band something to push back against, and provided a nice counterpoint to the chaotic and over-the-top energy of the back half of the show.
The adults had their chance to shine later on, with a well-portrayed contrast between their ambitions and their children’s feelings in the poignant “If Only You Would Listen”, and in Ned’s eventual breakdown as he learned to stand up for himself.
Rosalie’s transition from stick-in-the-mud principal to supportive co-conspirator was also a sweet touch, helping dispel the last of the disapproval as everybody finally learned to embrace their inner rock.
Overall, the show was loads of fun with some fun surprises sprinkled in. No deep, profound theatre here: just good laughs, rockin’ music, and a thoroughly entertaining evening.
DETAILS: Thames Music and Drama’s School of Rock. May 17-24 at the Thames Civic Centre. See www.thamesmad.co for details.
