Photos by Jason Anderson/Pendleton Studios
Rock of Ages
Book by Chris D’Arienzo
Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp
Produced by The Firehouse Theatre, Farmers Branch, Texas
Directed by Benjamin Keegan Arnold
Choreographed by Carlos Strudwick
Music Directed by Bryce Biffle
Audience rating: R (recommended for mature audiences age 16 and older)
Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes (15 minute intermission)
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Sound level: Loud Sound Level
Noises or visuals to prepare for: loud music, fog/smoke effects, flashing lights, depictions/references to illicit drug use, sexual innuendo
Reviewed by Stacey Simpson Calvert
For those about to rock, we salute you
– AC/DC
I had the pleasure of being in the audience during preview night for The Firehouse Theatre’s production of Rock of Ages. From the moment I heard the funny, saucy pre-show announcements being made, I noted a few reactions around me and knew some of the audience members may not make it past intermission. Sure enough, while I was standing in the lobby during intermission, I heard a man leaving with his wife, saying “I wasn’t very impressed with this show when I saw it on Broadway, and I’m still not impressed - the singing and dancing is really good, but this show is not for me.” Hey, at least he gave it another chance and is supporting local theatre!
So, you might ask - who IS this show for? Well, this (elder) Gen Xer loved it, and the audience was packed with adults of all generations who were having a great time. If you like jukebox musicals with paper-thin plots that serve as a vehicle for dozens of your favorite songs being belted out in front of you live on stage, you will love it! If you are nostalgic for or just a fan of 80s power ballads, hair metal bands, obscure German pop music references (Falco, anyone?), and over-the-top 80s fashion, L.A.-style, you will get your fill of all of the above in this hair-sprayed Delorean trip to the Sunset Strip during the Reagan era.
The plot really is kind of an after-thought (something narrator Lonny admits to the audience, one of many times the fourth wall is broken) and mainly serves as a vehicle for the great music. We are introduced to Sherrie (just a small-town girl), who has just arrived in Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an actress, and Drew (just a city boy), a wanna-be rocker who works as a barback at the legendary Bourbon Room, a live music venue on the Sunset Strip that has seen better days. Their sweet and awkward, repeatedly thwarted romance forms the heart of the story. The central conflict arrives in the form of a greedy German developer, Hertz, and his son, Franz, who want to turn the Strip into a soulless shopping center. Zany characters band together to save their beloved music venue, and an egomaniac rock star Stacee Jaxx arrives on the scene. Narrator Lonny keeps the action going and helps tie plot points together, besides racking up an impressive count of bathroom-related jokes.
Otherwise, the show is a non-stop 80s hit parade of songs from acts such as Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Joan Jett, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, and Twisted Sister. The energetic cast offers up powerful vocal performances, injecting freshness and fuller harmonies into rock classics like "Don't Stop Believin'," "We Built This City," and "The Final Countdown" without losing their rock essence. The basket of ear plugs made available at the entrance to the theatre should clue you in: this room was rocking! The live band led by Music Director Bryce Biffle (who also plays on keys) plays on stage the whole time and occasionally interacts with the characters.
This campy show cannot be effectively done in an understated way, and the cast, led by Director Benjamin Keegan Arnold, understood the assignment. They absolutely went for it with gusto! Austin Bender-Davis was hilarious as Lonny, bringing the jokes, audience interactions, and insider musical theatre references with a loose, droll delivery. Grant Hollowell has great comic timing as stoic bar owner Dennis. Austin Jon Hines as Drew brings a sweet sincerity to his role. I always know when I see Brooke Matthews on a cast list that I am in for some fantastic singing and acting, and this experience was no exception. Matthews has a Kelly Clarkson-like power to her rock singing voice that worked perfectly for the role of Sherrie in this show. The always charming Briana Berk as Regina (that’s Ruh-JINE-ah) brought a goofy energy to her role as a city planner-turned-activist. Geoff Lutz (German real estate developer Hertz) and Trenton Mosty (his son Franz) made a great comic duo and brought the laughs in every scene they were in. The musical number where the mousy Franz finally comes into his own is a highlight of Act II - you will never feel the same about leotards or sweatbands. Janette Robinson was lovely as the world-weary, yet caring club owner Justice who befriends and advises Sherrie. Robinson’s voice is soulful and rich, and her look is spot-on 80s glam.
And let’s talk about that rocking ensemble! Keegan Arnold has cast a wonderfully talented group of singers, dancers and actors who are constantly on stage whether making set changes, energetically and precisely dancing to Carlos Strudwick’s fantastic choreography, playing multiple parts, or helping to create an atmosphere. The amazing ensemble included Shanespeare Alexander, Aaron Black, Nicole Carrano, Jessica Deskewies, Jordan Gibson, Hailey Hatfield, Christina Kudlicki, Zane Synanksy, and Brian Vazquez. I particularly enjoyed Deskewies’ incredible dancing and can’t wait to see whatever she’s in next.
Technically speaking, the set by Logan Uhtenwoldt was impressively immersive. There were no fancy projection screens, just a well-designed, dimensional set with top-notch set dressing and meticulous attention to detail. I felt like I was sitting in the audience of Saturday Night Live, watching the studio band. The set piece that folded out of the wall to become the bar’s bathroom was clever and well-executed. Costume design by Dayna Dutton was 80s hair metal perfection. The production staff were still working through the timing of sound and light cues during the preview, and there were a few times I couldn’t tell whether the actors were not finding their light or if the light simply wasn’t there. Overall, the sound quality (by Sound Designer Michael Marbry) was great, with every spoken and sung word being crisp and understandable (this is so important to me as an audience member and surprisingly rare to find). The lighting and smoke effects designed by Mia Lindemann helped to sell the seedy bar scene of the Bourbon Room.
It's worth noting that Rock of Ages is an adult-oriented show about sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll and features quite a bit of “potty” humor. The humor is often bawdy and filled with sexual innuendo, and some of the language is strong. Stacee Jaxx is portrayed by Dayton Wilson as a wildly arrogant, misogynistic rock star, and some of his interactions with other characters are intentionally uncomfortable, though played for laughs and by poking fun at the unsavory aspects of 80s metal culture. These elements give the show its over-the-top, edgy vibe, but they might not be suitable for all audiences.
Rock of Ages is a fantastic night out. It's loud, it's fun, and it's pure entertainment. Head over to The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch for a head-banging trip to the Sunset Strip! Rock of Ages plays through August 24.
On with the show,
Stacey Simpson Calvert
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