Review of Rock of Ages
3 out of 4 Stars
You won’t find any Def Leppard songs in “Rock of Ages.” We are warned at the start that the show’s producers couldn’t gain the rights.
But have no fear. This relentlessly silly, surprisingly sincere jukebox musical offers a wide spread of 1980s big hair band memories including Reo Speedwagon, Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Poison, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Whitesnake, Night Ranger, Quaterflash, Asia and Damn Yankees.
The jukebox musical, built on familiar pop songs, is the most reviled genre of theater. So perhaps what makes “Rock of Ages” so refreshing is that it makes no reservations about itself besides offering a paper-thin story, clichés and poop jokes set to distorted guitar riffs and hard-hitting drumming. Yet it somehow manages to be addictively catchy.
It’s a plot you’ve probably heard before. But in case you get lost, a mullet-hair narrator is persistently present to lead us through the journey.
Shy, sweet boy (Constantine Maroulis) dreams of being a rock star instead of a dishwasher, while idealistic, innocent girl (Kelli Barrett), straight off the bus from Kansas, dreams of being an actress. Her character’s name, Sherrie Christian, serves as inspiration to sing Steve Perry’s “Oh Sherrie” and Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian.”
The subplot concerns land developers who want to reconvert the Sunset Strip into a modern Times Square, leading a determined female protestor break into rock anthems like Starship’s “We Built This City” and Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Of course, it all ends on a happy note set to the Journey anthem “Don’t Stop Believin.”
Maroulis, a former “American Idol” contestant, is unexpectedly charming. Will Swenson, who played Berger last summer in “Hair,” plays the rocker Stacie Jaxx, who temporarily breaks up the young lovers, as a gleefully flamboyant, ridiculous combination of David Lee Roth and Axl Rose.
Credit surely goes to director Kristin Hangii for taking a 21-actor cast, 6-member band and 30 metal rock songs and churning out such a feel-good, tongue-in-cheek experience. And did we mention that you can order drinks in your seat and wave Bic lighter-style flashlights during power ballads?
New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, 212-239-6200, $46-80. Mon, Wed-Thurs 8pm, Fri 7 & 10pm, Sat 2 & 8pm, Sun 3pm. Open Run.
Comments (2)
Very popular show, It has romance, good music, Constantine, and drinks too!
If anyone wants a fun night, Go!!
I know I'll be returning! Great show!
I was in NYC for 10 days and refuse to confess how many times I saw this show. I'm a fan of the big ballads of the 80's and even though I grew up with Neal Diamond and Mick and the Stones,
I don't recall having had more fun at a show in terms of sheer comedy, music rush and and cast strength.
Musical performances in Rock of Ages from every member of the cast to the dynamite band did the music more than justice..and that's saying a lot! Standout numbers for me (not what you would expect in terms of ''traditional presentation', to say the least..) were the moment when the shy wannebe rocker let's loose with "I Want To Rock", " Waiting for a Girl Like You" (hilarious, actually!) , "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," The full cast's " Here I Go Again," and the young 'lovers' delicious duet, High Enough. among others.
Of course, the finale- from which the story was drawn- Don't Stop Believin' brought the entire house to its feet at every show I attended.
ROCK it ON, Rock of Ages! Go see it!