Theater Review by Ralph Greco, Jr.
It has been said, that those who do not learn from history will be damned to repeat it. Those of us who survived the ‘history’ of the 80s — big hair, pastels and power ballads — can see and hear it all repeated, with hair-raising (pardon the pun) delight in the new rock musical, Rock Of Ages, currently playing on Broadway in big bad New York City.
Boasting music from Whitesnake, Journey, Pat Benatar, even Quarterflash (and more), how could anyone — but anyone — not love this rollicking two-hour plus show? I am no fan of musicals; in fact, I downright detest them, but I have to say I don’t recall having this much fun at a theater performance since I saw Taboo in London (the British version, not the failed NY one) and haven’t laughed out loud like this in a very long time. Rock Of Ages is simply fantastic.
It’s difficult to pin down what exactly I liked so much about this show. Maybe it was those squishy, disposable flashlight thingies they hand you when you walk through the door (to hold over your head during the softer numbers). Perhaps it lies in the fact that the performance I attended was sold out with an audience made up of all ages. It might possibly be that the theater itself, retrofitted by the fantastic set designer Beowulf Boritt to resemble the Sunset Strip all the way around the inside of the house, was too cool to avoid.
Of course, the fact that you could actually get drinks served to you at your seats made it that much more special. And the band for the evening — all pros in their own right — stood ably on stage and played their instruments with precision and skill. Then, none other than David Coverdale came out and made the opening announcements. In the end, it may well have been that the songs we know so well were playfully woven into a harmless and enjoyable narrative anyone would enjoy. I don’t know what makes Rock Of Ages work, but work it does.
The story, what there is of one, concerns the rather banal plot of bad guys (a German land developer, no less) railing against well-meaning rockers to turn the beloved Mecca of 80’s rock and roll, the Sunset Strip, into malls and shopping. Keep in mind that Rock Of Ages is not about its plot; it’s a celebration of the music we see and hear performed; how that music tickles the deep recesses of our memories (had you been alive at the time it first aired); how tunes like “Anyway You Want It” and “The Final Countdown” really do get your feet clapping and your hands tapping.
There were groans of recognition from the audience over a song we might not have heard for a while, as well as how it fits in the narrative. There are times that two separate tunes are being sung by characters to state their purpose, with that cracker-jack band playing perfectly behind the nearly 20-member cast. You strap in and go with this show, much like people do with Mamma Mia (I’ve seen both and Rock Of Ages is better. Maybe that’s because I’m more a rocker at heart). And you forgive the slight narrative as even cast members poke fun at the weaknesses of the story they are part of.
And how about that cast? The show stars Constantine (American Idol rock dude) Maroulis as the heart-of-gold wanna-be Drew and his love interest Sherrie (oh yes, you just knew that was coming!) played by the fantastic Amy Spanger with charisma and pipes, making up for Maroulis’ decent, but at times not-so-seasoned voice.
There’s some fantastic thong-baring (not that I noticed) dancing from the three girl chorus-waitresses-strippers and a great comic turn by Wesley Taylor as Franz. The double whammy of wailing James Carpinello, playing the David Lee Roth rock God-like Stacee Jaxx, and Mitchell Jarvis’s Lenny as the all-important, house-rocking, stage-prancing, play-stopping narrator, knock you out of your seat every time they are on stage. And there’s that band, made up of guys like Joel Hoekstra on guitar and keyboardist/musical director Henry Aronson. Kudos to Kelly Devine for her choreography on such a crowded stage. Because they never get their due and, in this case, deserve it, Tom Watson should be applauded for the wigs (of which there are many).
And the hero of the day — especially for a rock musical! — is Peter Hylenski for his sound design. Rock and roll is hard to pull off in these older NYC theaters, regardless of how much state-of-the-art technology these houses support, they were not built for music played at this volume. I was impressed with how good the band sounded and how clear I could hear everyone’s voice.
If you are planning a trip to New York or live nearby, it would be a good idea to get tickets (if you can) to Rock Of Ages. Having enjoyed previous runs, as well as an off-Broadway airing, this is one play that deserves its place as the new must-see musical in a town with so many to choose from. Anyway you want it, don’t harden your heart and make sure you go see Rock Of Ages. The show’s run ends Sunday, June 28.
