Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages sure did hit me with their best shot! And this show really does pack a punch! Promising Nothing but a Good Time, and delivering, this show is one not to miss. So StageSideUK… are you ready to rock and roll all night? I said… Are you ready to Rock’n’Roll all night?!

A Shining Star, well a shining cast!

Let’s start this review off shining a light on some of the amazing cast that this show should be utterly thrilled to have. I think we have to start the stand out star list (Spoiler Alert: containing all the cast) with Joe Gash, who plays Lonny.

Starting the show, interacting with the audience throughout and ending the show, Lonny really does have quite a lot of work to do. Especially on midweek matinees with rather bare seats. Joe didn’t back down though. Instead, he picks on Jean. A woman in the audience who apparently has herpes, is a freak in the sheets and has a rather extensive history with partners… It wasn’t until the bows I noticed Jean, the filthy devil. Joe made reference to her throughout the show, really bringing the audience onto the strip and making us feel at home and yet oddly uncomfortable. He did alot of the leg work, the audience did the clapping along and a good time was had by all. 

Joe worked ridiculously well on stage with Ross Dawes, who plays Dennis Dupree. Providing us with an afternoon of entertainment and moments that had everyone, including the pair on stage. The two really couldn’t have given a better performance. 

The Lovers!

Rhiannon Chesterman, who plays Sherrie Christian, has a range that is ridiculously varied. Paired with the fantastic Sam Turrell, who played Drew, these two are utter perfection in their duets and their medleys. Character wise, they both absolutely nailed it! They really do go through an emotional rollercoaster in this show and the cast are able to switch it up in the blink of an eye. 

Songs, Sets and Costumes!

Featuring songs such as Don’t Stop Believin’, Sister Christian and We Built This City, this musical is one for those rock and roll fans, musical fans and those who just want a good night out.  I have to say, I knew very little about this show.Having seen the film, there is quite a difference between the live version and the movie. I am glad I saw this now, and I’m excited to book another visit to the Sunset Strip some time soon. Very soon! If it had been a live version of the film I may not have been that happy.

With a brilliant set design, great costuming and some awesome music, there really isn’t much more you can ask for. It is one of those shows that will have you clapping along, in awe at the talent and laughing in the aisles all at once. Now that is hard to do, but they make it possible. 

And the Accessibility?

A quick comment on the accessibility of the show. I need to say this as a matter of principle, based on discussions I have had with some people who say a musical can’t be too quiet etc. This show is how to do a musical right, especially for those who need a quieter setting or the lack of sudden sounds and movements. There are flashing lights, which if I am honest they do add a fair bit to the show so I can see that being an issue if they were removed. But in terms of volume, the singing was perfectly balanced with the musical score. The special effects weren’t too loud and it made the show so much better. A Rock and Roll musical… with a normal volume level, I never thought I would say that. 

Now it comes to the rating. 

Entertainment

(Did the show give me what I paid for, did I cry? Would I have danced along? Did I want to sing … but didn’t because etiquette)

This show pleasantly surprised me. I went in not knowing what I was getting but honestly not expecting much. At first glance I thought it would just be the film, then I saw the set and thought is this just a concert for the songs? And then we met Lonny… and instantly I was really glad I booked the show. I was entertained from the moment it started, even just going to find my seat to the final bows. I was engaged and they had my attention at all times. How can I give them anything less than five stars for the talent and effort on stage, and the joy that was gifted to the audience. Just amazing!

Value for money

(Was the cost of the ticket reflected on stage? Was the price fair? )

Ticket pricing is something I wanted to talk about a bit. So my local theatre is relatively medium sized. The prices for that performance fell into two options. Really restricted view £15 ish. Clear view £24 ish. I originally paid for a restricted view not knowing how restricted. Then I upgraded my seat and paid the difference. For £24 ish it was worth it. To be able to see everything, clearly, in the centre of the circle… just stunning. HOWEVER, on some evening performances, the price went up quite a bit. The same seat was £30+. Perhaps not a big jump for some, but its enough to have made me look at other venues for tickets. 

When I look at next year’s tour, at larger venues, they are charging more… and on matinees too. So I think at £24 pounds for the best seats in the house, this is perfect and a great price. Sure I would have maybe gone up to £30 for the “premium seats” to get a bit closer. As much as I think it was great and I really want to see it again, I think £30+ for a ticket where I was is a bit steep. But to understand this I need to let you in on how my brain works. 

1 show for the price of 2

So I have a membership card for a certain chain of theatres. This gives me money off tickets and bar drinks/snacks. If we talk about my visit to Waitress which had upper circle tickets with a central view and were £13, or Lion Witch and the Wardrobe which are the same seats again for £13 and then we say I could have potentially paid £30+ for 1 show, you can see why it’s a big deal. I can see 2 shows and have a drink for the price of one normal ticket at my local. I know this has to do with capacity, popularity, demographics etc but it still affects me as a consumer. 

For my show alone I give it five stars, but for the lack of choice in prices and the fact that evenings were considerably more (some of the premium seats i’m sure were near £40) I think it is a really subjective response. So I am going to give it the five it should have for my seat and the price I paid, but obviously this is a really vague and particularly odd circumstance. 

Accessibility

(What was the show like in terms of noise levels, sensitivity issues, topics mentioned within.)

This show had quite a few triggers in it. From a party popper at the end which had a rather loud noise, to flashing and intense lights, projections and interaction, this show may not be the most accessible, however… The noise level wasn’t too bad throughout. In fact I would go as far as to say I had no issue with the noise level, other than that blooming popper. The lights weren’t too intense and there didn’t seem to be any strobes, just a few flashes and star-like flickers. I think for me I am going to give this a four out of five as this is one of the only shows for a little bit that didn’t make me jump and I felt really comfortable in. Granted if I was Jean it may be a different score.

Overal Rating?

Overall the show gets a fantastic five stars out of five! This show has made it into my top five shows! The isnt much this show could do to be better and so it is a near perfect show! All round amazing!

Have your say!

Have you seen Rock of Ages? What did you think? Are we fighting for the Strip or do we think we need more shopping venues? Let me know in the comments and let’s get a discussion going.

As always, please be respectful of each other’s opinions and be kind to each other. I completely respect and value everyone that worked on this Show. We need to remember that these are people with feelings. Let’s treat them with respect. Bullying will not be tolerated and harmful language will be removed. 

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All images were taken from the Rock of Ages social media.