ROCK OF AGES

“We built this city. We built this city on rock an roll”

A review by Tanya Howard

Rock Of Ages is an LA love story lavished with over 25 classic rock anthems. Lose yourself in a city and a time where the dreams are as big as the hair, and yes, they can come true! Prior to last week’s performance I had never seen the film or theatre production of Rock Of Ages, and actually got myself confused and was actually expecting the storyline from We Will Rock You.

The narrator Lonny, played by Lucas Rush, introduces us to Sunset Strip in 1987, the place to be if you are looking for a good time and where people come who want to give fame a shot despite the odds being against them.

Drew, an aspiring rocker working at The Bourbon Room, won’t let this deter him from going after his dreams and neither will Sherrie, a Southern sweetheart who moved to LA with big dreams of becoming an actress. After a chance meeting Drew gets her a job in The Bourbon Room to help her out until she gets her big break.

At first Dennis, the bar owner, doesn’t want to take on any new staff but quickly changes his mind when he sees Sherrie bend over to pick something up. If you are looking for a feminist forward show I wouldn’t recommend Rock Of Ages to you. You have to be able to accept that the undercurrents of sexism and misogyny run throughout the show and acknowledge that it’s not to be taken too seriously, it’s the 80s after all.

Everyone’s dreams are thrown in the air when two German property developments sweep into town and convince/bribe the major to give up the “sex, drugs and rock n roll” of Sunset Strip for favour of a clean-living development. Forced to close up The Bourbon Room Dennis decides to throw a farewell party with Stacee Jaxx, played by Strictly winner Kevin Clifton, and his ban Arsenal who are about to part ways.

All of the cast had really incredible voices and sang some absolute classics including “We Built This City”, “The Final Countdown” and a particularly hilariously beautiful rendition of “Fight This Feeling” performed by Kevin Kennedy and Lucas Rush. But the outstanding singer of the night was definitely Zoe Birkett, the winner of Pop Idol in 2002, who played strip club owner Justice. She came on stage like a force to be reckoned with and absolutely blew me away with her incredible vocal range.

Nick Winston’s put together some great choreography and the routines were executed really well; you should have seen the height of some of the heels and the short shorts some of the girls had to wear and yet they were still smashing through the sequences. The set was also very impressive, really giving you the feel of a slightly run-down old rock bar.

I couldn’t pick one favourite from the cast because they all brought something special to the show. Lucas Rush was the narrator of dreams, bringing the comedy factor alongside Kevin Kennedy, and Luke Walsh and Jodie Steele had great chemistry in the lead roles.

Andrew Carthy and Vas Constanti, who were the Father and son German Property Developer combo, had me laughing whenever they were on the stage and Rhiannon Chesterman plays crazy lunatic particularly well and I was willing her and Andrew’s characters to end up together.

I love the old classic rock hits from the 80s, actually I love most of the music from the 80s and would definitely recommend Rock Of Ages. A talented, hilarious and passionate cast who together will bring together a great show for you.