For all you head bangers out there, the jukebox musical, Rock of Ages, has alit in Ridgefield, CT, where it is receiving a raucous, if somewhat carefree production at ACT of CT. The show which, unbelievably, ran for 2,328 performances on Broadway, incorporates classic 80’s rock songs from such artists as Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, and Poison.
You don’t attend a performance of Rock of Ages for some deep meaning or exalted enlightenment. As ACT Artistic Director states in the program notes, this is a show with an “over-the-top love story, racy jokes, tight pants, big hair, and shameless camp.”
The musical is boisterous, energetic and chaotically entertaining, but Director Igor Goldin’s overall presentation is more slipshod even for a loosey-goosey show like Rock of Ages. The production is invigorated by a number of spirited dance routines from choreographer Sara Brians.
Kyle Dixon’s minimal Scenic Design continues the practice of positioning the band at the back of the performing area, where they can be easily viewed by the audience and interact with the cast. They fill the breadth of the ACT stage with just a small bar to one side of the space completing the set. The Director has smartly continued this practice, which provides some humorous moments in the show. The five member group is a tight ensemble under the skillful guidance of Music Director Jeff Cox.
The book of the show by Chris D’Arienzo is as simple-minded as the two dimensional characters within the musical. It’s full of silly and preposterous plot points, and lovable characters. Yes, at times, it’s juvenile, obvious and obnoxious, but somehow it mostly works.
Essentially, Rock of Ages is the aged old story of boy (Dale Obermark as Drew) meeting girl (Abigail Sparrow as Sherrie), boy stupidly loses girl and - spoiler alert - boy wins back girl. Obermark gives an exuberant, genuine performance as the good-looking, wholesome would-be rocker working in the Sunset Strip watering hole, the Bourbon Room. By chance he meets the soon-to-be love of his life, Sherrie, fresh off the bus from Kansas. He finagles her a waitress job at the bar where the sparks begin to fly. Ms. Sparrow, an attractive and charming actress, proves she is not just another pretty face. She is the one character that shows some emotional depth and shading to her role. We suffer through her ups and downs before she finds happiness. The two performers also have great chemistry and sparkle when together on stage.
Complicating matters for the couple is the imminent demolishing of the beloved Bourbon Room by a German father and son, who have convinced the mayor that their redevelopment of The Strip will transform the locale for the betterment of the community. Then there’s sexually charged rocker Stacee Jaxx (think Bret Michaels of Poison) who just seems to gum up the works.
The rest of the cast can be flamboyant, overwrought, and bombastic. Liam Fennecken who, playing Lonny, serves as the show’s narrator and bar gadfly. The actor seems like he escaped from the national tour of Beetlejuice. I say this in a positive vein. Justin Michael Duval gives a great stoner performance as bar owner Dennis. Kevin Dennis is stern and loving as Hertz, the German parent while Sean Widener is simply outrageous and endearing as his son Franz. Rounding out the main group of performers is Shaylen Harger, unfortunately saddled with the one-dimensional character of Regina who pops up throughout the show protesting the destruction of the Bourbon Room and the gentrification of The Strip.
Rock of Ages, playing at ACT of CT in Ridgefield, CT through March 19, 2023. Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.
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