Drayton Entertainment’s musical production of Rock of Ages delivers on everything this long-running Broadway hit has to offer: big hair, great music and several entertaining, if somewhat hackneyed, plot lines.
Set in the ’80s, when hard living rockers adopted emerging electronic technology to create heavily synthesized hits, Rock of Ages covers a memorable period in musical history populated by “glam rock” bands often remembered as much for their lengthy locks and flashy costumes as their catchy, but generally overwrought musical offerings.
Before you dig out your platform heels and spandex pants and head off to the theatre, we should point out that Drayton Entertainment has been going out of its way to stress this show is geared to adults.
In fact, since announcing the show, the theatre company has bumped its original recommendation of the show as suitable for 13 and up, to 18 and up.
Promotional material notes the production is a “tongue-in-cheek tribute to the classic rock scene” and “includes behavior associated with the era” such as: explicit language, mention of casual drug use and sexual innuendo which “may be offensive to some theatregoers.”
Personally, I found it all pretty tame given the buildup, and would even venture that Drayton Entertainment has probably staged more controversial fare in the past – but better safe than sorry I guess.
By the way, if you’re comparing this show to the movie featuring Tom Cruise, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones, it’s campier, but pretty much on point.
The story of Rock of Ages takes audiences back to the Sunset Strip in Hollywood in the late ’80s and revolves around the threat of closure for an iconic rock club, The Bourbon Room. Small-town girl Sherrie arrives in the big city planning to take it by storm, but quickly gets drawn into the city’s well-documented seamy side. She makes friends with aspiring singer and actual bartender Drew Boley, who works at the club and gets her a job as a waitress.
From there, the plot goes off in several directions, all of which you’ve seen before, so don’t get too caught up in it. Listen to the music. Enjoy the dancing. Laugh at the jokes. Trust me, you’ll have more fun.
Jayme Armstrong is engaging as the naive newcomer and displays a sweet singing voice, some dance talent and a deft touch for the role as an innocent out-of-towner. She also displays strong chemistry with co-star Kale Penny, who makes his Drayton Entertainment debut as Drew. Penny capably handles the dramatic and comedic possibilities the plot affords him and shows off a voice that is worth the price of admission on its own.
Both of them get a chance to demonstrate their singing chops on classics like Sister Christian and Oh Sherrie.
Aaron Walpole makes his Drayton Entertainment debut as Lonny, co-owner of The Bourbon Room. A former Canadian Idol semi-finalist, Walpole’s stage career has included appearances in Les Misérables and Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway. While audiences might be divided on the need for the highly-meta narration the script compels him to deliver, you can’t question his comic timing or willingness to go way over the top as required. His singing voice rivals Penny’s for best in the show, as he demonstrates on rock numbers like We Built This City and ballads like I Want to Know What Love Is.
Mark Harapiak, who has a lengthy list of Drayton Entertainment credits including Footloose and Mamma Mia, is the perfect foil for Walpole as club co-owner Dennis Dupree and the pair pull off a surprise show stopper in their duet segment on I Can’t Fight This Feeling.
Gregory Pembler steals a few scenes himself in his role as Franz Klinemann, son of the villainous Hertz Klinemann, played with dastardly aplomb by Drayton stalwart Victor A. Young.
Jade Repeta also gives a strong performance, playing two pivotal roles and making her voice heard on several numbers.
Perhaps the toughest job in this show goes to Jamie McKnight, charged with making audiences forget about Tom Cruise’s larger-than-life film turn as rock mega-star Stacee Jaxx.
McKnight is definitely up to the challenge, portraying Jaxx as a swaggering swine while hitting the right comedic tone and showing a powerful tenor voice on several numbers, most notably Rock You Like a Hurricane.
Alex Mustakas directs this production and the Drayton Entertainment linchpin has weaved a strong cast and great tunes into a mesmerizing show.
Set designer Samantha Burson should also be listed as a star of this show, as her creations, from the glitzy Bourbon Room to a seedy strip club, add to the authentic atmosphere, as do costume designer Adrienne Pink’s bold ’80s outfits.
Choreographer Robin Calvert takes a relatively small dance ensemble group and turns them into one of the show’s most watchable elements. The troupe really gets moving on numbers like Cum on Feel the Noize and We’re Not Gonna Take It.
The only problem is they’re a bit under-utilized and somewhat limited by the set, which is, of necessity, pretty crowded.
Still, by the time the whole troupe is singing and dancing to the show’s signature tune, Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Calvert seems to have found space enough for everyone to strut their stuff through a rousing wind-up that led to a truly spontaneous standing ovation from the capacity crowd on opening night.
Rock of Ages runs at the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge until Nov. 5.
Tickets are $46 for adults and $27 for youth under 20 years of age. HST is applicable to all ticket prices.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.draytonentertainment.com, in person at the box office, or by calling 519-621-8000 or toll free at 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
