Rock of Ages is Rad!
When my editor asked me to review Rock of Ages I cringed. I mean, hey, I?m no rocker dude?Dude! Seesh, I even come off as some kind of a geeky nerd just saying Dude. Nope, when the songs permeating this show were hits, hard hitting rock ballads by the likes of Journey, Bon Jovi, Poison and Twisted Sister, I was listening to a different group of twisted sisters -- Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and, yes, even Cher. You?re probably jumping to conclusions, and you?re probably right. So I wasn?t thrilled. But when I heard that Christopher Isherwood of the Times had called the show the ?Xanadu for straight people -- and straight-friendly people too,? I became hopeful. After all I?ll admit it some of my best friends are straight. And now I?m glad I went. This show is rad! Rad? Did I say that? See, it?s even got me talking like a rocker dude - and, more importantly, not taking myself too seriously. Which is one of the big reasons this show works. From start-to-finish it?s very tongue-in-cheek. When entering, audience members are lined-up as if attending a real rock concert, passing signs like the one admonishing viewers, ?Don?t use your cellphone, even to dial 867-5309.? And each attendee is handed a battery-powered ?lighter? to flash and wave during the show, again reminiscent of a rock concert. Right to the endpoint, when star Constantine Maroulis is handed a copy of the program onstage and told, ?It?s the show you?re in right now,? nothing is taken too seriously in this production. And it works. It?s the kind of technique that gives even the stodgiest viewer permission to laugh, and it makes what might otherwise be completely absurdly out-of-place moments on stage quite acceptable. The plot is paper-thin, but in this context that?s OK. Constantine Maroulis plays Drew, a wannabe rock star newly arrived to 1980?s Los Angeles in pursuit of stardom. While making ends meet as a bar back in the Sunset Strip?s legendary rock palace, the Bourbon Room, he meets actress wannabe Sherrie Kerry Butler. Their potential love connection is threatened when Sherrie meets rock star Stacee Jaxx James Carpinello who has been enlisted by Bourbon Room owner Dennis Adam Dannheisser and his assistant Lonny Mitchell Jarvis to perform a benefit concert in a last ditch effort to save the club from purchase and ultimate demolition by German investor Hertz Paul Schoeffler and his son, Franz Tom Lenk. Adding to the mixed-up mayhem is Regina Lauren Molina, a flower-child protester trying to rally the denizens of the Strip to protest the destruction of their beloved swath. Maroulis was my biggest surprise. Having seen him on American Idol I knew he had the chops for the role, but could he act? He was wonderful! His amazing stage presence belies his relatively limited experience in the realm of theater. It?s no wonder he received a Tony nomination for his portrayal. As the somewhat shy, lovesick rock star wannabe he is completely convincing. Kerry Butler as Sherrie, his love interest, was also quite good, though I found it a little difficult to believe she was the embodiment of virginal purity freshly arrived from Kansas. I?m not sure this is entirely Ms. Butler?s fault, though, as her costume as she arrives is not that much less tawdry than when she later must seek employment in a stripper?s club. Since the show was otherwise so wonderfully adept at making fun of itself, I think a more pristinely dressed first appearance would have worked to better effect. There were a couple of times, as well, when I wondered if Ms. Butler was having an off-night with some of the vocals. Granted, rock songs often call for a bit of a screech, but a few of Ms. Butler?s notes took the liberty a bit too far. James Carpinello as Stacee Jaxx, lead rocker of the group Arsenal, was perfect. He gives an absolutely flawless interpretation of the arrogance and excess so often associated with stars - rock and otherwise. And his comic timing is flawless. Adam Dannheisser as Dennis, the owner of the threatened Bourbon Room, was also quite good. I must admit, there were times when it seemed he was channeling Cheech, or Chong, or both, but I mean this only as a complete compliment. It worked! And his assistant Lonny was also played with remarkable skill and amazing dexterity by Mitchell Jarvis. Jarvis had the enviable and yet daunting task of acting as the show?s ad hoc narrator, providing asides and simple explanations when needed throughout the show. This is particularly difficult to do while still creating a believable character in the context of any show and yet he performs the task splendidly. In fact, his enthusiastic and energetic execution helps to really drive the show?s laughs. Paul Schoeffler and Tom Lenk as the interloping Germans are both excellent, though Mr. Lenk?s performance is so hysterical that it?s almost impossible not to watch him when he is on stage. But his absolute absurdity is a perfect foil to the other characters. And it?s no big surprise, but still a wonderful moment, when he and Regina Lauren Molina fall for one another in the end. His silly, almost effeminate portrayal, makes his connection with the powerful, fist waving flower-child protester another stupendous portrayal by Ms. Molina work all the better. In fact, most of the elements of Rock of Ages work. The set, by Beowulf Boritt, reminded me instantly of the seedy bars and sights of the 1980?s. Did he rip those floor tiles straight from the less-than-glam bar I used to hang in? When the show opens we?re told that, ?We?re going back to a sexier time! The Reagan era!? and Mr. Boritt?s bold, in-your-face set definitely transports us there. Aside from my problem with Ms. Butler?s initial costume I also felt that costume designer Gregory Gale?s creations helped pull us back to that sexier time. The rockers were decked out so authentically it was hard to believe they hadn?t just stepped out of the era. And the more hippy-esque costume of the flower-power protesters were also right on. I would venture to say that anyone who is a rocker dude will absolutely love this show. In fact web reports indicate that it?s already become a bit of a cult-classic among that set, with some folks reportedly attending more than 100 times! As for the rest of us, like myself, don?t go with any pre-conceived notions. This fan of Madonna and Cher is still enthusiastically humming Don?t Stop Believing.

Rock of Ages on Friday, Apr 9th, 2010

Rock of Ages is Rad!
When I was asked to go see Rock of Ages I cringed. I mean, hey, I?m no rocker dude?Dude! Seesh, I even come off as some kind of a geeky nerd just saying Dude. Nope, when the songs permeating this show were hits, hard hitting rock ballads by the likes of Journey, Bon Jovi, Poison and Twisted Sister, I was listening to a different group of twisted sisters -- Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and, yes, even Cher. You?re probably jumping to conclusions, and you?re probably right. So I wasn?t thrilled. But when I heard that Christopher Isherwood of the Times had called the show the ?Xanadu for straight people -- and straight-friendly people too,? I became hopeful. After all I?ll admit it some of my best friends are straight. And now I?m glad I went. This show is rad! Rad? Did I say that? See, it?s even got me talking like a rocker dude - and, more importantly, not taking myself too seriously. Which is one of the big reasons this show works. From start-to-finish it?s very tongue-in-cheek. When entering, audience members are lined-up as if attending a real rock concert, passing signs like the one admonishing viewers, ?Don?t use your cellphone, even to dial 867-5309.? And each attendee is handed a battery-powered ?lighter? to flash and wave during the show, again reminiscent of a rock concert. Right to the endpoint, when star Constantine Maroulis is handed a copy of the program onstage and told, ?It?s the show you?re in right now,? nothing is taken too seriously in this production. And it works. It?s the kind of technique that gives even the stodgiest viewer permission to laugh, and it makes what might otherwise be completely absurdly out-of-place moments on stage quite acceptable. The plot is paper-thin, but in this context that?s OK. Constantine Maroulis plays Drew, a wannabe rock star newly arrived to 1980?s Los Angeles in pursuit of stardom. While making ends meet as a bar back in the Sunset Strip?s legendary rock palace, the Bourbon Room, he meets actress wannabe Sherrie Kerry Butler. Their potential love connection is threatened when Sherrie meets rock star Stacee Jaxx James Carpinello who has been enlisted by Bourbon Room owner Dennis Adam Dannheisser and his assistant Lonny Mitchell Jarvis to perform a benefit concert in a last ditch effort to save the club from purchase and ultimate demolition by German investor Hertz Paul Schoeffler and his son, Franz Tom Lenk. Adding to the mixed-up mayhem is Regina Lauren Molina, a flower-child protester trying to rally the denizens of the Strip to protest the destruction of their beloved swath. Maroulis was my biggest surprise. Having seen him on American Idol I knew he had the chops for the role, but could he act? He was wonderful! His amazing stage presence belies his relatively limited experience in the realm of theater. It?s no wonder he received a Tony nomination for his portrayal. As the somewhat shy, lovesick rock star wannabe he is completely convincing. Kerry Butler as Sherrie, his love interest, was also quite good, though I found it a little difficult to believe she was the embodiment of virginal purity freshly arrived from Kansas. I?m not sure this is entirely Ms. Butler?s fault, though, as her costume as she arrives is not that much less tawdry than when she later must seek employment in a stripper?s club. Since the show was otherwise so wonderfully adept at making fun of itself, I think a more pristinely dressed first appearance would have worked to better effect. There were a couple of times, as well, when I wondered if Ms. Butler was having an off-night with some of the vocals. Granted, rock songs often call for a bit of a screech, but a few of Ms. Butler?s notes took the liberty a bit too far. James Carpinello as Stacee Jaxx, lead rocker of the group Arsenal, was perfect. He gives an absolutely flawless interpretation of the arrogance and excess so often associated with stars - rock and otherwise. And his comic timing is flawless. Adam Dannheisser as Dennis, the owner of the threatened Bourbon Room, was also quite good. I must admit, there were times when it seemed he was channeling Cheech, or Chong, or both, but I mean this only as a complete compliment. It worked! And his assistant Lonny was also played with remarkable skill and amazing dexterity by Mitchell Jarvis. Jarvis had the enviable and yet daunting task of acting as the show?s ad hoc narrator, providing asides and simple explanations when needed throughout the show. This is particularly difficult to do while still creating a believable character in the context of any show and yet he performs the task splendidly. In fact, his enthusiastic and energetic execution helps to really drive the show?s laughs. Paul Schoeffler and Tom Lenk as the interloping Germans are both excellent, though Mr. Lenk?s performance is so hysterical that it?s almost impossible not to watch him when he is on stage. But his absolute absurdity is a perfect foil to the other characters. And it?s no big surprise, but still a wonderful moment, when he and Regina Lauren Molina fall for one another in the end. His silly, almost effeminate portrayal, makes his connection with the powerful, fist waving flower-child protester another stupendous portrayal by Ms. Molina work all the better. In fact, most of the elements of Rock of Ages work. The set, by Beowulf Boritt, reminded me instantly of the seedy bars and sights of the 1980?s. Did he rip those floor tiles straight from the less-than-glam bar I used to hang in? When the show opens we?re told that, ?We?re going back to a sexier time! The Reagan era!? and Mr. Boritt?s bold, in-your-face set definitely transports us there. Aside from my problem with Ms. Butler?s initial costume I also felt that costume designer Gregory Gale?s creations helped pull us back to that sexier time. The rockers were decked out so authentically it was hard to believe they hadn?t just stepped out of the era. And the more hippy-esque costume of the flower-power protesters were also right on. I would venture to say that anyone who is a rocker dude will absolutely love this show. In fact web reports indicate that it?s already become a bit of a cult-classic among that set, with some folks reportedly attending more than 100 times! As for the rest of us, like myself, don?t go with any pre-conceived notions. This fan of Madonna and Cher is still enthusiastically humming Don?t Stop Believing.

Rock of Ages on Friday, Apr 9th, 2010