Rock of Ages is both a homage to and a caricature of the Rock music genre. ‘It’s a bit loud, innit?’ said the woman sitting alongside me to her work colleagues. ‘It’s supposed to be, it’s a musical about rock music,’ replied her friend. And that’s how the evening went as we zig-zagged between some excellent musicianship and the cheese and sleaze that have become the stereotypical tropes of the big-hair rock music of the 80s after it took the rock music of the 60s and 70s and turned it into a joke, writes Michael Holland.
Fortunately, Rock of Ages does not take itself seriously. Lonny Barnett (Tim Oxbow) pretty much slithers across the stage to lasciviously flick his tongue in and out at a woman in the front row, before simulating fellatio on Dennis Dupree (Kevin Kennedy) in the first five minutes.
The plot is basic B Movie stuff about small-town boy meets small town girl who share each other’s dreams to make it big in show business; boy loses girl as she goes off to be a stripper, while the men in suits want to close down the Bourbon Room club where they met if the owner doesn’t pay his tax bill. On the way, there are numerous conflicts that are the catalyst for many grandiose, power songs that we were encouraged to sing along to.
The ups and downs of the people connected to the endangered Bourbon Room were all leading to one last big show that will raise enough to save the day if we all come together and Don’t Stop Believing.
And when I say all come together I do mean the estranged father and son reunite, the egotistical singer who got the waitress the sack are all smiles again, the man owed money is singing along because he believes he is going to get paid, the love interest couple get over their disputes and kiss and make up, and the audience are all induced to get up, stamp their feet and clap their hands for the big happy finale as part of this big happy rock family. Job done.
Rock of Ages is not brilliant but it ticks all the boxes for an entertaining night out. The voices amongst the cast are incredible, the guitarists are at the top of their game, and the cheesy, sleazy hints at comedy have their place in this time-locked musical that will rock on for many years to come.
Bromley Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA until Feb 11th. Times: Varied. See website. Admission: £15 – £47.50
Booking: 0343 310 0020 – www.churchilltheatre.co.uk
