School of Rock

Theatre Under the Stars to August 24, 2024
Tickets from $30 at www.tuts.ca or 1-800-514-3849

Posted July 22, 2024

Ah, TUTS! A picnic dinner by the Rose Garden. A stroll through the gardens and around the pond in front of the historic Stanley Park Pavilion (built in 1913) and then through the gates to the Malkin Bowl for the show. Or, once inside the TUTS grounds, a salmon burger or a Bavarian smoky with mustard, sauerkraut and a cold beer. But it’s not about dinner, it’s about the show with yet another amazing cast of mostly young performers coming up through the local music, dance and theatre ranks, including Vancouver’s School of Rock. This young cast will knock your socks off or, given the warm weather, your sandals.

This season it’s School of Rock and CATS – two bound-to-please musicals.

With book by Julian Fellowes, lyrics by Glenn Slater and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, School of Rock (based on the 2003 film) left me and my family singing “Stick It to the Man” although I have forgotten who “the man” was and I don’t think my grandkids experience “the man” the way we did way back when. And Dewey Finn, the main character, now seems – at least at first – like a lazy layabout and not quite as cool as we might have found him in the past.  But, in the course of the musical, Dewey redeems himself.

In the show, Dewey (Colin Sheen) has been dropped by No Vacancy, the rock band for which he played lead guitar. At rehearsals, Dewey was always riffing off in all directions and constantly upstaging the lead singer. And he can’t seem to get his share of the rent together where he lives with band-mate Ned Schneebly (Matthew Valinho)) and Ned’s pushy girlfriend Patty (Marija Danyluk). When the phone rings offering Ned a short-term teaching position at Horace Green, a very expensive prep school, Dewey pretends to be Ned and gets the job. But he’s no teacher and these savvy kids see through it. But all he has to do is avoid the principal Rosalie Mullins (Emma Love) and the kids’ parents.

But when Dewey discovers that some of the kids are really good classical musicians, he decides to get them rockin’ and rollin’ with the goal of competing – and winning – the upcoming contest, Battle of the Bands.

When one of the kids says rock and roll is a “waste of time”, Dewey responds, “Let’s waste some time together, shall we?”  Naturally, the kids really get into it and along the way, they learn self-confidence, teamwork and acceptance. Those that don’t play instruments, can sing backup, be groupies and techies,  costume designer or band manager. There’s something for everyone even the shyest little one – Tomika (Azaleah Korn who sings like a Swainson’s Thrush).

Directed by Tracey Power with choreography by Matthew Rossoff, this cast of more than two dozen, dance up a very energetic, enthusiasm-fuelled storm. And although there is also a below-stage band of seven under the direction of Eliza De Castro, these kids can really rock out live: Casey Trotter on percussion, Mya Forrest and Crosby Mark on guitar, and Fumi Okochi on keyboards.

School of Rock really starts rocking with “You’re In the Band”, as one by one, Dewey accepts the kids into the band or hands out other jobs. Very organized Summer (Thailey Roberge) doesn’t play an instrument; she can be “manager of the whole damned thing.” “I’m not cool”, says another kid. “You’ll be so cool you’ll be a walking popsicle,” replies Dewey. The band grows and so does the kids’ excitement – and ours.

But uh-oh, Miss Mullins wants to sit in on class and Parents’ Night looms.

Colin Sheen makes no pretense of being Jack Black, the star of the School of Rock film. He’s a different Dewey and so is Emma Love in the role of Miss Mullins. Love is clearly a trained singer and sings Mozart’s  Queen of the Night aria from the Magic Flute – twice! And Sheen gets us warmed up to slacker Dewey by illuminating the caring side of his character. Dewey genuinely likes these kids and Sheen shows this.

On Jennifer Stewart’s set – a poster lined bed studio alternately with two huge school pillars lit by John Webber – everyone is having a great time at the School of Rock.  It’s impossible not to start rockin’ and rollin’ in place.

I’ve always loved walking back down through the ancient cedars after the show when everyone pours out of Malkin Bowl and into the forest to the parking lot.  It’s dark, the squirrels are sleeping, the moon is peeping through the trees, the stars are out and everyone is talking about the show. People are singing scraps of songs. Little kids are being carried by their moms and dads. Flashlights and phone lights are flickering through the trees. It’s magic.

The School of Rock alternates with CATS so check the website or – better yet, go to both; I hear CATS is purr-fectly wonderful, too. Theatre Under the Stars at Vancouver’s Malkin Bowl has been the thing to do in the summer for 84 years; where else can you get a rose garden, hot dogs, popcorn, a starry sky, huge trees, moonlight AND a musical?