Dominican College Portstewart pupils give a masterclass in outstanding production of School of Rock

The Portstewart school was transformed into Horace Green Prep for three nights of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical adaptation of the famous Jack Black movie, School of Rock.

The hilarious, raucous musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed rock star who poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school in order to earn some much-neede rent money.

In something of a culture shock, Dewey – posing as teacher Mr Schneebly – turns a class of high-achieving, results-driven, straight-A students into a rock band that could blow the roof of a venue, quicker than any of the north Atlantic gales around the Portstewart school.

The rock and roll experience began the moment the audience stepped through the door of Dominican, with bouncers on the door checking ID and ages and a fan zone meet-and-greet area with a bunch of rockers who wouldn’t have looked out of place in the band Kiss.

Production values on the whole show definitely earned a A-grade with an extended performance area and fantastic backdrop projections transporting the audience from the leafy avenues of Horace Green Prep, to the New York skyline of Ned and Patty’s apartment to the grotty rock venue where the Battle of the Bands took place.

Hair, costume, make-up and props were carefully thought out and curated to depict the clash of musical and educational cultures. Big shout out and congratulations to the very hard-working stage team who had to cope with setting and re-setting scenes involving beds, guitar and mic stands and a full drum kit - which they did with speed and accuracy.

Taking on the massive lead role of Dewey Finn (posing as Ned Schneebly) was Evan Johnson who had the audience in stitches with his performance – this role demands comic timing, singing, dancing, empathy and boundless energy and Evan brought it all. Whatever the opposite of ‘could do better’ is on a report card, that’s the comment he deserves!

Running the prestigious Horace Green Prep and trying to control the outrageous ‘Mr Schneebly’ was principal Rosalie Mullins played by Faye Green. Faye handled the role of prim, slightly stressed head teacher, very ably but came into her own in the bar scene as she remembered her own ‘rock chick’ days in the fabulous number ‘Where Did the Rock Go?’

Shout out to Director Kathy Anderson for a beautiful touch during this song – a black and white reel of memories on the back wall projection, showing various members of staff ‘in their rock and roll days’. Just one of the creative details added by this talented director to create such a hit show.

The two lead characters were very well supported by their fellow principal cast members and a huge ensemble of school pupils, parents, teachers, and rockers.

It was clear that the students had put a huge amount of work into developing their characters and this showed in some fantastic individual performances such as Lucy Hutchinson as Summer, the ‘goodie-two-shoes’ pupil who eventually warms to Mr Schneebly’s enthusiasm for rock and becomes the band’s unstoppable manager and Ollie Worthington as Billy as the band’s flamboyant and creative costume designer who embodied his character with just a look or a gesture – two lovely characterisations.

Their fellow School of Rock band members portrayed their individual journeys from ‘rules to rock’ with great credibility – Eva Austin as shy Tomika who finally found her fabulous voice; Noah Douglas as Zack who learns to express himself through his insane guitar shredding talent, Odin Kellerman as fun-loving Freddie whose drum playing and hairstyle were a great hit, Maya Hegarty as ‘serious’ student Laurie who ‘seriously impresses’ with her keyboard skills and Rachel McIlroy as Katie, the classical cellist who discovers that she can handle a bass guitar with equal ease and talent.

However, a full-scale, full-tilt musical like School of Rock only works when the WHOLE cast brings 100% enthusiasm and commitment – and they did that in style!

Huge congratulations to director Kathy Anderson and assistant director Sarah McIlhagga for an incredible production.

And, you can’t have School of Rock without a rock band!

Musical director Sarah Shiels and assistant MDs Lucy Kerr and Steven Gault along with band members Lindsay Boyd, Anne Campbell and Robin McCay raised the roof with their performances – leaving no toe untapped!

To every person who played their part in bringing School of Rock to the stage of Dominican College in Portstewart, go straight to the top of the class.

10/10.