The Tianqiao Art Center in March is really a bit "dry"! The phenomenal French musical "Rock Mozart", which has just been sent away, and the weber musical "School of Rock" that has just been sent away, has once again plunged the theater into a sea of screams and cheers. Previously stationed in Shanghai for a month, the musical has received overwhelming praise like a tidal wave, as if to plunge the whole city into madness, and this heat wave north into Beijing, is still so unstoppable.
Shanghai performance scene. Courtesy of the performer
Adapted from the 2003 film of the same name by Richard Linklater, School of Rock tells the story of dewey rock musician Dewey, who by chance leads a group of children to form a rock band. The film version of Dewey is played by the well-known American comedian Jack Blake, and his slightly crazy performance also leads the style of the film.
In contrast, the musical version of "School of Rock" is more approachable, it continues the story setting and general plot of the film version, the biggest difference is that the way of expression is more "musical". For example, in the passage where Dewey assigns band functions to children, the film version of the show is more flat and direct, and the musical version directly uses a "you're in the band" to complete the plot series, which is more refined and flexible. In addition, compared with the focus of the film version on the protagonist, the musical gives more characters the opportunity to speak, including the children and the principal have independent singing segments that pour out their hearts, which makes the characters more plump and highlights their gains and transformations in this special experience.
Teachers and children. Courtesy of the performer
Speaking of Weber, domestic audiences may be more familiar with his "Cat" or "Phantom of the Theatre", and what is less known is that Weber in his youth can be described as a full-fledged "rock star", and his early creations of "Joseph and the Magical Colored Dress" and "Jesus Christ the Greatest Star" are all musicals with a rock style. Receiving the script of "School of Rock" at the age of nearly seventy years old, Sir Grandpa still injected great vitality into it with a number of original music creations with distinct styles and rhythms. The fresh and clear style of the fusion of pop and rock makes the work unique on Broadway, where rock musicals are rarely seen, and the accurate matching of public tastes has also become the guarantee that the work is talked about.
If you compare "School of Rock" with last year's "Queen of Boots", you will find that there are many things in common between the two, and these are the secrets of their success: the core storyline of both works is the loser (frustrated) male protagonist who finds another way to find confidence and makes the career revived; and the actual core characters are groups that lack attention in the real world (drag queens & children), who finally choose to stick to themselves, thus shocking the four. The two sides support each other and achieve each other, and the troubles in the middle of the way are constantly laughing...
In fact, the story is still like that story, but another way, another medium to tell it, will still make you get a great touch and shock, this is where the power comes in - the success of "School of Rock" is a replicable success, and it is precisely because of its replicability that we feel that Broadway is familiar with the road in creation.
The two core elements of "School of Rock" "Rock" and "Little Kid" are very attractive in themselves, and the collision between the two produces a strong chemical reaction, and the final shock effect of the whole scene is the best proof - after all, who can resist the charm of a group of children singing and dancing and playing rock and roll! The meaning of "teaching children to play rock" is far from being as simple as it is, because "rock" is an excellent carrier, it represents a spirit, a way of life, a world view.
Refusing to follow the rules, longing for freedom, and living your true self are all very important things for children. Therefore, in the "stick it to the man" section, the children on dewey's stage learned to say "no" in a "rock" way, learned to stick to their preferences and choices, and the children's headshook and roared at that time, which was the most sincere and moving.
Since its premiere in Shanghai, the reputation and box office of "School of Rock" have gone all the way up, and this rekindling of Beijing once again confirms that "burning musicals" may indeed be the most market-oriented musical theater attributes, and the fit of many current audiences' demands for "relaxing and reducing pressure". It is expected that more "burning musicals" will appear on the Chinese stage.
□ Choi Hao (dramatist)
Beijing News Editor Wu Longzhen Proofreader Guo Liqin