Making a jukebox book musical out of the hair-band hits of the 1980s may sound like a joke, but the funniest thing about Rock of Ages, currently blasting the roof off New World Stages, is that it has as much covert affection for musicals as it does for the arena rock of yesteryear. As the song says, it don't mean nothing but a good time.

The hugely enjoyable musical has the good sense to riotously spoof itself, tongue always in cheek. The tone is set by our mullet-haired narrator (played with infectious energy by Mitchell Jarvis) who confesses he's no "Andrew Lloyd Sondheim" and that he wanted to explore deep and insightful theater -- but instead is narrating a show with poop jokes and Whi[...]