“Hair metal” comes to Bradford’s Alhambra where Leo Owen caught Chris D’Arienzo’s stage musical, Rock of Ages
Playing tribute to Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip, Rock of Ages is a musical journey through the 1980s with songs like Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” played as pre-show warm-ups. There’s a five piece band on stage and neon lights for the Venus Club. David Coverdale from Whitesnake introduces the show projected video-link-style on a screen at the back of the stage, already setting its extremely tongue-in-cheek tone: ”Text messaging makes you like a douchebag.”
Amid the bright lights and club setting, narrator, Lonny (Stephen Rahman-Hughes) immediately breaks the fourth wall encouraging us to say “hi” to the person next to us, the person “[we’ll] be making out with by the end of the show”. The cast walk through the audience onto the stage, sporting some colourful glam metal costumes and hair.
It’s 1987 and young and hopeful wannabes flock to Hollywood wanting to make a name for themselves along the famous Sunset Strip, the mile and a half of entertainment industry big names. Sherrie (Cordelia Farnworth), an aspiring actress, arrives outside Duprees Bourbon Club and manages to get a waiting job with the help of Drew (Stephen Rolley) who’s already a club employee but plans to become a rock star.
Sherrie’s timing is off as German developer, Hertz Klineman (Jack Lord) is in the process of convincing the mayor that Rock n’ Roll is ruining the city, jeopardising the Strip’s future with redevelopment plans. Trying to fight against his club’s possible closure, Dupree convinces Stacee Jaxx (Ben Richards), the singer of Arsenal, to play his last gig at the club before going solo in an attempt to boost revenue.
Songs from Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, Journey, Europe, Mr Big and Extreme are all mashed-up in overlapping scenes, cutting between character groups and individuals with illuminated sections during whole ensemble pieces. Although Set Designer, Beowulf Boritt, keeps much of the action inside Duprees, a small backdrop is used for minor scenes like the meeting with the mayor, or inside the men’s toilets and Venus strip club.
Its a very audience-aware cast with Rahman-Hughes as narrator heckling audience members, suggestively twirling his nunchucks. In his camp American lisp he takes on the role of stage God by introducing stereotypical plot conventions like the love interest or the need for a big Act 1 finale, involving “jazz hands”. He also detracts attention during minor scene changes like the arrival of Drew’s car for his first date with Sherrie and his constant commentary adds humour as the date progresses. His playful narration ropes in other cast members, especially humorous when addressing Jason Rolley, commenting on how lucky it is his first name wasn’t “Sausage”. Both lose it in a barely controlled fit of giggles and occasional purposeful lapses into British accents, much to the joy of an already completely won audience.
Rahman-Hughes is undoubtedly the show’s stand-out performer but vocals are strong throughout with some excellent duets and solos from leads, Rolley (Amazingly, normally the understudy) and Farnworth. Regina Kuntz, the Mayor’s Planning Assistant (Jessie May), gives an outstanding solo performance and later sings with Cameron Sharp as Franz. Both wearing matching turquoise glitter spandex, leg warmers and head bands, May and Sharp perform one of the show’s funniest routines in “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”.
From start to finish, the show conquers its audience with clap alongs to the opening number and a well-earned standing-ovation to finish. Musical snobs may argue it’s not a proper musical but Rock Of Ages devil-may-care attitude aims to appeal to the masses, mocking the rock genre, alongside the show’s appealing plot and script, ensure even those less keen on guitar tunes should enjoy the show. There’s plenty of sexual innuendos, cheeky choreography from Kelly Divine with semi-naked gyrating, a gold studded cod piece, glitter gun and even a new metal song, “Beaver Hit”, penned especially to poke fun at the genre. It has a feel-good Wedding Singer like quality and so much energy, it’s infectious, making it impossible not to leave smiling.
Rock of Ages runs until Saturday 28 June at The Alhambra before continuing its tour.