If the autumnal chill has left you in need of some cheering up, this high-energy fun musical could be just the ticket. Playing this week at the New Theatre the lively and accomplished cast and band of Rock of Ages takes you on a fond, funny and atmospheric journey to the 1980s, which on the night I visited had the entire audience up on its feet joining in.
Set on LA’s rundown but characterful Sunset Strip, which is peril from over-enthusiastic property developers, the show has a simple boy meets girl — loses girl — gets girl back plot. If that sounds a bit thin be assured that the witty and rather saucy script makes it work very well. There are a plethora of hilarious performances. Particularly rib-tickling are Daniel Fletcher as rock club owner Dennis and Stephen Rahman-Hughes as his sidekick Lonny, while the double act of Jack Lord and Cameron Sharp as father and son German property magnets Hertz and Franz is delightfully daft.
The combination of an excellent score of about 30 numbers and great choreography (which is delightfully risqué at times) is testament to the show’s high production values. The central romantic couple, Drew the aspiring rock star and naïve wannabe actress Sherrie (Noel Sullivan and Cordelia Farnworth), have great chemistry together and lead the show with confident and credible star quality. The entire cast give their all throughout — singing and dancing with skill and passion.
Rock of Ages is a big show with a set full of interesting features and eye-popping costumes. It’s full to the brim with larger than life characters, over-the-top humour, and dance numbers which really have the wow factor. Pleasingly, it has caught the vibe of the 1980s without being cynical or schmaltzy – and that’s a pretty neat achievement.
Rock of Ages
New Theatre, Oxford
Until October 25
Box office: 0844 871 3020/atgtickets.com
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