By Eric George Tauber
I know my day is coming.
I hope it’s coming.
I’m pretty sure it’s coming.
SAN DIEGO — The movie School of Rock is what really put actor Jack Black on the A-list of actors. More importantly, it spawned actual Schools of Rock featuring lessons, workshops and camps with locations in San Diego, Encinitas, Oceanside and Temecula.
Rob Colletti plays Dewey, a shlubby everyman who dreams of being something more. “Rock God” is a title that many dream of, but few attain. Dewey plays guitar for a hard rock band No Vacancy. But then he gets himself kicked out by upstaging his bare-chested Van Halen wannabe lead singer. Colletti is likably relatable as a loser and a riot for his sheer chutzpah.
A chance opportunity to substitute teach at Horace Green, an elite prep school –meant for his nebbishy roommate Ned Shneebly- creates an opportunity to get himself back into the Battle of the Bands and a chance at a $20,000 prize.
The faculty of Horace Green sing with the posh propriety of Gilbert & Sullivan. Lexie Dorsett Sharp as Principal Mullins gives a none-too-shabby Queen of the Night Aria, but it’s Stevie Nicks that really lives inside her and transforms her from uptight to cutting loose.
Some heavy pressures to perform and conform sit on small, young shoulders at such an elite academy. We get little windows into their home lives in “If Only You Would Listen.” And from the reactions of the house, many could relate. So they relish the chance to blow off steam when they “Stick it to the Man.”
Iara Nemirovsky is a petite powerhouse as the class’ Little Miss Bossy, Summer Hathaway. While Colletti is not really playing his instrument, the kids really do play theirs and they are impressive. Vincent Molden as Zack busts some classic Chuck Berry moves on lead guitar. Theodora Silverman is no slouch on bass guitar and Gilberto Morretti-Hamilton has some real chops on the drums.
At first, Lawrence (Theo Mitchell-Penner) resists being in a rock band because rockers are “cool” and he’s never been “cool.” But this boy knows how to jam on the keys. And we cheered when shy little Tomika (Grier Burke) finally found her voice in a goose bumps raising “Amazing Grace” sung acappella.
The angst and anger of hard rock brings out the rebel in all of us. And it puts us in good company with our fellow landsmen like David Lee Roth, Alice Cooper, Getty Lee, Avril Levine, Amy Winehouse and all four members of KISS. So take the stick out, let your hair down and bring the little rebel in you to the Civic Theatre for School of Rock playing through June 17.
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Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com