School
of Rock
jettisoned Jack Black’s film career in 2003. Can anyone top his performance as
Dewey Finn? I hear that Alex Brightman slays it, throwing himself into the
highly physical part and losing one or two pounds per show. We saw his
understudy, Jonathan Wagner, who comes very close to Jack Black and even looks
like him. NYC students will especially appreciate the saga of parents
pressuring kids to get good grades and kids wanting to explore private artistic
passions. In a kids-to-parents song “If Only You Would Listen” substitute
teacher Dewey asks, “What makes you more angry than anything else in the
world?” Katie (Evie Dolan, age 11) answers, “Being over scheduled.” The
dialogue could be way wittier, but perhaps Andrew Lloyd Webber and Julian
Fellowes are the perfect team for serviceable children’s musicals. “Stick It to
the Man” and “You’re In the Band” were a lot alike, but Arden, our young
critic, rocked out to both. Spencer Moses is delightful as Dewey’s best bud,
Ned. A shout out to young back-up singer Carly Gendell, with her groovy dance
moves—it’s no surprise that she’s played Annie. Parents be warned: the music is
loud all the way through. Children in the cast bop, stomp, and punch
energetically—and yes, they really do play their own instruments.
Steak
and sushi are on the lunch and dinner menus at Tender Bar and Grill in the
Sanctuary Hotel near the theatre district in midtown. The tangy, wild
ginger-edamame appetizer was a winner, but the flatbread pizza was
unremarkable. Atlantic salmon burger was our favorite on the 3-course, $29
pre-matinee prix fixe. Tender is a sports bar with giant screens, exposed brick
walls and teal blue leather banquettes, with pop music (but the volume is kept
low) and kid-friendly. Arden raved about the steak.
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