That being said, if the 80's was a rocking cool time in your life you will likely be among audience members who cheered, laughed, bopped and sang along. If you are not a fan of mullets, studded leather, lap dancing to wailing guitars and more than 30 of rocks greatest songs, then you may be among the crowd of confused looking people squirming in their seats wondering if they'd ever hear again.
While the music may not make it to the Lincoln Library of classic Broadway show tunes, it will certainly be among the most talked about show to come in ages, Rock of Ages. Given the fact that producers and creators are reaching out to embrace a younger hipper audience this electric charged, raw, "power to the people" show may be the direction Broadway is heading. But beware: this is not a kid friendly show.
Clearly the music is the story and it is most impressive. Thankfully because the flimsy plot simply put is; country girl (Sherrie, Shannon Mullen), comes to LA looking for an acting career and is sidetracked by a wanna be rock star (Drew, Dominique Scott), while a German developer (Hertz, Philip Peterson) strikes a deal to replace Sunset Strip into a line of strip malls, sparking a protest to save the clubs and the Rockers.
The overly animated narrator (Lonny, Justin Colombo) and his Bourbon Club boss (Dennis, Matt Ban) pull every obvious corny comedy trick out of their hats to lure the audience into laughing at Bevis & Butthead humor.
However, if you keep your eyes closed for about 2 hours you experience some of the best delivered music of over produced songs of Styx, Poison, Foreigner, Europe, Asia, Journey, Pat Benatar etc. But then you would miss the grinding lap dances, pole dancing, big hair tosses, vulgar gesturing and scantily clad strippers.
This is not to say that the cast is unworthy. This hard working crew works their butts off and delivers some righteous heavy metal songs. Standout performances are offered by Dominique Scott and Shannon Mullen, the star crossed lovers Sherri & Drew as well as the heart felt voice of Amma Osei who plays "Mother" of the strip club girls.
There's some interesting and odd choices of songs dropped into this floppy plot. REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight the Feeling" serves as a declaration of 'man love' between Lonny & Dennis, which seems to delight some of the crowd. Pat Benatar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" erupts when Hertz's "gentle" candy shop son Franz (Stephen Michael Kane), rebels against his father in his bright blue spandex tights. "Wanted Dead or Alive" becomes a backdrop song for the show's Rock Super Star Stacee Jaxx (Matt Nolan) as he struts like a sleazy peacock. Drew and Sherrie (Scott and Mullen) do total justice to Damn Yankees' "High Enough" and Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is treated to the soulful voice of Amma Osei (Mother) as it turns into one of a few 11 O'clock money numbers.
One could say that Rock of Ages is the acid rock version of Mamma Mia. One could also say that Rock of Ages won't steal an audience from "Oklahoma" or "Music Man". Surprisingly by the end of the evening even the stunned, quiet members of the audience were on their feet when this rocking ensemble belted out "Don't Stop Believing".
Rock of Ages plays at the Merriam Theater, Broad St. Philadelphia through October 23. For tickets and information: www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway or call 215.893.1999
