Reviewed by Louise Edwards
“Don’t Stop Believing’, just hold on to that feeling” is the message from the latest musical to grace the boards at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham, the captivating Rock of Ages!
Starring Kevin Kennedy (of Coronation Street fame) as Dennis, owner of The Bourbon club on Sunset Strip in LA (who ever knew Curly Watts could sing!), Strictly star, Kevin Clifton as rock legend bad boy Stacee Jaxx and Zoe Burkett, Pop Idol winner from 2002, with her phenomenal voice as Justice, owner of Venus strip club. Joining them are the flamboyant Lucas Rush as Lonny, who serves as the hilarious narrator and romantic leads Luke Walsh playing Drew and Jodie Steel playing Sherrie as well as a talented cast of singers and dancers.
The musical is set in the mid to late 80’s where soft rock is the lifeblood and everyone in town wants to be an actor or musician. It is the 80s so hair is big and shorts are very short!
Would-be rock hero, Drew, is working on the bar at The Bourbon when he meets Sherrie who has just arrived in town from Kansas. He convinces Dennis to give her a job in the bar. There is an instant spark but Drew claims they are just friends, not wanting to put too much pressure on Sherrie, leaving her disappointed.
Of course there has to be a baddie and this comes in the guise of German property developers, Franz (played by Andrew Carthy) and Hertz (played by Vas Constanti) who convince the LA mayor to shed off the wild rock reputation of Sunset Strip in favour or a much more sterile environment. This angers town planner Regina (played by Rhiannon Chesterman) who launches a protest, cue “We Built This City”.
When Dennis hears of the plans to destroy his beloved club he calls Stacee Jaxx and invites him and his band Arsenal to play their last gig, where it all started, at the Bourbon to which he agrees. Cherrie, thinking she means nothing to Drew, is smitten by Jaxx and whilst Drew is playing the opening set, she meets Jaxx in the men’s restroom and seals her fate. Jaxx then demands that Dennis sack Sherrie. Sherrie, seeks sympathy from Drew but he saw her go in the men’s room with Jaxx so dismisses her. Broke and alone, she finds herself working at the Venus strip club, taken in by Justice to make ends meet. Of course, there has to be a happy ending so you need to go and watch this brilliant show to find out how this all comes about!
This phenomenal show has lots of comedy and some amazing singing and dancing to mix. The timing is impeccable and the arrangements and orchestration by Grammy and Tony Award nominated Ethan Popp, who has worked as Musical Director on a string of hit musicals, is out of this world.
The songs fit in perfectly with the story as hits from rock heroes such as Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison and Europe are belted out to get you singing along and swaying in time. A fantastic tribute to 1980’s soft rock and, with a live band playing in the background, you are guaranteed a brilliant evening of entertainment and rock tunes.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £19.50 to £46 (booking fees may apply).
Rock of Ages is at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham from 2-6 April 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.trch.co.uk or call the box office on 0115 989 5555.
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND
