View from the Green Room: School of Rock rocks Garter Lane
The cast of School of Rock 2026.
Well…it was noisy…it was loud…it was long…and it was a bucket load of talent that jumped off the stage and left me delighted with the musical talent to come in Waterford.
Directors Jean and Ellenor Upton (who also choreographs) made a brave choice with School of Rock because the cast not only have to sing, act and dance BUT they also have to play musical instruments as well. WCM – the Waterford Centre of Music – are well placed to produce this challenging show because they also teach instruments as well as drama and dance at Unit 52 Tycor Avenue.
Neutron-charged Evan O’Keefe Reid gives his all as wannabee rock-star Dewey Flynn, who gets the bullet from his rock band butties – aptly titled ‘No Vacancy’ (Isabelle Flynn, Ana Sabljic, Fionn Keane, Aaron Joy and Finn Ryan) - because of his onstage antics.
Desperate and broke he impersonates Ned Schneebly (Callum Dixon) and gets a substitute teacher job at the Horace Green School, where he founds the band School of Rock with students who, remarkably, all turn out to be musical prodigies. Dewey invents his own curriculum around rock music and spends his day rehearsing with the kids for the upcoming Battle of the Bands.
There’s a roll for everyone as the students tap into their inner selves. Meabh Doyle is great fun as the bossy-boots band manager who revels in her new-found power over everyone. Leah May Power delights as timid and shy Tomika, whose belt soprano lifts backing vocals Shonelle (Ruby Breen) and Marcy (Faye Furlong). Evie Grant is nerdy techie Mason, Sophie (Jane Mansfield) and Madison (Abby Barry) are cool roadies, while Charlotte Jones and Annie O’Sullivan are security guards not to be messed with.
Dewey’s band amaze us all night with their musical and acting ability. Harry Moynihan is feisty teen Zach who is more than able to stand up for his principles as well as playing a mean guitar, Lucy Russell who dazzled on keyboards as Laurie, Louis O’Keefe-Reid who beat out the drums as Freddie, Aoife Collins who was a virtuoso on bass guitar and, of course, Evan O’Keefe-Reid as singer/guitarist and who also drove the whole show ever onwards.
There was also a large group of students, teachers and parents who were always engaged and involved in some fine chorus work and dance routines.
Ella Fewer was a real show-stealer as the haughty school principal Rosalie Mullins, whose heart melts when she finds a kindred spirit in her wannabee rocker cum teacher. Her solo numbers – Queen of the Night and Where did the Rock go – showed off Ella’s fine belt soprano and her hair-let-down moment of transformation from stuffy old principal to joyous young woman found favour with the audience.
Set design and lighting came from Big Bear and Paul Haberlin performed heroics with the multiple set changes throughout the three-hour show.
School of Rock is a big show that makes multiple demands on any company. Well done to the Waterford Centre of Music for pulling it off!
