BASED on the successful 2003 movie, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical tells the story of would-be rocker Dewey Finn who, kicked out of his band and behind with his rent, passes himself off as his mate Ned Schneebly who’s been offered a job as a temporary teacher at a posh prep school.

Incapable of teaching ordinary lessons (“My dad didn’t pay $15,000 a year for recess,” declares one girl), he discovers they have musical talent and turns the whole class into a rock band, to compete in a Battle of the Bands against his old crew.

Of course, it is totally implausible, Julian Fellowes’s book makes no attempt to explain how he gets away with it, but that hardly matters in a show all about exuberance. Dewey may start off a lazy slob but once things get going David Fynn gives him fantastic energy.

When he goes through the class spotting individual talent, telling each in turn:

“You’re in the band” (a number that works in riffs from Lou Reed and Deep Purple), a whole series of precocious performers is discovered.

Stick It to the Man, the show’s central number, may be a call to rebellion but this is a revolt against rules economic privilege. The tokenish characters are a bit cliché – like the lad who loves Barbra Streisand and designing dresses who’s dad expects him to play football; the pianist who doesn’t fit in his father’s workshop; and the shy little outcast who blossoms – but there is a very genuine message for parents to listen to their children and what they need.

It’s all about confidence building and self-expression. Even the up-tight headmistress, stunningly played by Florence Andrews, gets won over.

Though the whole show celebrates rock, her Queen of the Night aria from Mozart’s Magic Flute and little Nicole Dube singing Amazing Grace are highlights.

Three sets of 13 youngsters take turns to play the children. I saw a great team, including Joshua Vaughan as the young couturier, James Lawson as the keyboard boy and Tom Abisgold, a fiend on guitar. The youngsters are the heart of this show, they are irresistible.

BOOKING UNTIL FEB 12
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