SOME SHOWS go out of their way to declare they are ‘not jukebox musicals’ but there is none of this stage snobbery with Rock of Ages which unashamedly, nay proudly, embraces the concept and, well, ‘makes it rock’.
In truth, you could not have shoehorned anymore 1980s rock classics and big sounding ballads into this show and each one was cleverly woven into the plot.
As well as that, it sends up the musical genre, Hollywood movies and more as it reaches its destination.
The story centres on Los Angeles in 1987, Sunset Strip and the ‘Bourbon Club’ which – although the beating heart of the area – is under threat from ‘more wholesome; development meaning all those loud guitars, dreams and feelgood factor could all be lost.
It is up to our unlikely heroes to make sure that does not happen.
From a directing point of view, this must have been tricky to cast – you need a group of ten all-rounders who can act, sing and deliver some comedy when needed. Kudos to director Alex Thompson, musical director Russell Painter and choreographer Emily Hamer and their team for a fantastic production.
Although you have your ‘Romeo and Juliet’ main pair and a love story (‘all musicals have a love story’ as Rock of Ages reminds us), there are almost ten principals in this cast and they all played their part and all rose to the challenge of their solos when needed.
The Cast
Lauren Shoring delivered the Mayor character well and Beth Bonner was solid as Ja’ Keith.
Rich Walker was great as stereotypical hard-lined Hertz Klinneman and, likewise, Hayley Jordan was fantastic as strip club owner Justice Charlier. His moment came in the second half with ‘Keep on Loving You’ and, along with her character portrayal, she had several memorable vocal moments.
Like most rock songs, Regina is a character who grows on you the more you hear her and by the end she was a firm favourite with those watching.
Josh Dibble made the role of arrogant Arsenal lead singer Stacee Jaxx his own, relishing playing the needy frontman who craves attention.
Ben Williams also rose to the occasion as first detested, then loved, Franz – the son of the dictator developer.
This show – above all else – is about ‘following your dreams’ (as well as, ironically, sending up cliche messages) and Gareth Coffin as Drew and Georgie Hand as Sherrie provided the feelgood strand. The audience took both of them to their hearts the moment they clapped eyes on them and willed them to ‘win the day’.
Similarly, but in a different vein, another ‘double act’ was Rob Pinner as Bourbon Club owner Dennis Dupree and Scott Denton as Lonny Barnett.
Pinner portrayed the ‘out there but feet on the ground realist’ perfectly and he was magnificently matched with Denton.
As well as playing the character who you feel could have reinvented himself in Wayne’s World for the 90s, he broke the fourth wall as the narrator, passing comment on the concept of musicals, characters’ situations and even ‘condemned the writer’s writing of the script’.
Dancers Molly Parker, Lucy Mann and Emma Davis also earned their corn conveying the choreographer’s demanding itinerary – you wondered where all their relentless energy was coming from.
There were plenty of smatterings of comedy throughout the show and some real laugh out loud moments, including in the musical numbers ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ and ‘Can’t Fight this Feeling’.
Although the harmonies in this piece were outstanding throughout, the pick of the songs vocally had to be ‘Every Rose Has its Thorn’, starting with amazing harmonies from Sherrie and Justice and extending to Drew, Lonny, Dennis, Stacee Jaxx, Franz, Hertz and the ensemble.
The only issue with watching this on the opening night was that it was a ‘school night’ – I’m sure most of the crowd would’ve loved to have headed home to continue the party with some classic 80s rock ballads on YouTube and a few drinks, but you’ll regret it when the alarm clock sounds tomorrow morning.
Rock of Ages – delivered by Carpet Trades Musical Theatre Company – runs until Saturday, October 18, with performances at 7.30pm each evening and a 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday. There are some raunchy/risque scenes in this production so it is suitable for those 12 and over.
Click here for tickets and more information or call the Rose Theatre Kidderminster box office on 01562 743745.
