ensemble members in Rock of Ages
Rock of Ages, now playing at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, is a jukebox musical composed of 1980s hits from acts including Twisted Sister, Pat Benatar, and Journey. Drew (Gabriel Hill), a would-be rocker, and Sherrie (Avery Gallagher), an aspiring actress, meet and fall in love in L.A. Set primarily in the Bourbon Room, a Sunset Strip bar owned by Dennis Dupree (Ryan Scoble), the story is narrated by Dennis’s right-hand man Lonny Barnett (Kai Brown). Superstar rocker Stacee Jaxx (Charlie Kadair) creates chaos during his band’s final gig, while the bar’s very existence is threatened by greedy developers. This rousing production was directed by Courtney Crouse, with music direction by Gabriella Petrarca, and we saw the Friday-night performance on June 28.
Kitty: Jukebox musicals are a lot like an episode of Glee. The plot doesn’t really matter that much, and it helps to end with a performance of “Don’t Stop Believin’.” So if you’re into popular ’80s music, this will be the show for you.
Mischa: Fun fact: I didn’t really ever get into “Don’t Stop Believin’” until I heard the Glee version.
K: That’s because you like all the obscure, hipster ’80s music. Normal people love Journey.
M: Well, then: If you’re thinking “I Wanna Rock,” and you’re looking for Nothin’ but a Good Time, The Search is Over! No, wait – if you Can’t Fight This Feeling, then the Showboat's Rock of Ages may be Just Like Paradise!
K: When you get on a run like this, it makes me Hate Myself for Loving You.
M: Sorry, I’ve got Too Much Time on My Hands! [ducks] But seriously, it was an enjoyable production, not least because it didn’t take itself too seriously.
K: As the show has a distinct theme, I was glad that it had a bold visual look to match. Between Montana Carlson's costumes and Aaron Kennedy's scenic design, the vibes – as the kids would say – were immaculate.
M: And the bar was fully stocked with liquor bottles. But they also did a lot with a little. Some neon and wood grain, a partial brick façade and some signage … . Even just a higher platform created a new location – they used the space pretty flexibly. One quick set change also gave us the inside of the men’s bathroom, which was used to great (gross) comedic effect.
K: Crouse's cast grabbed me right away with the opening number. Their dancing made me feel like these people were having the time of their lives. And Kai Brown’s Lonny felt like he was our collective best friend. He had a great rapport with the audience.
M: He had crass humor and strong presence, and some impressive pipes too, especially in duet work with Scoble (the surprise “I Can’t Fight This Feeling”). There was great singing all around, really. I loved Hill’s soaring tones and Gallagher’s powerful intensity.
K: And those two sounded great together. One of my favorite performers was Grace Hunt as Justice “Mama” Charlier. What a powerhouse!
M: She was criminally underused.
K: I agree. She had a full voice that was equally strong in both higher and lower registers.
M: We also got some stand-out acting and singing from ensemble members Shannon McCarthy (Constance Sack), Veronique Chayer (Waitress #1), and James Stover (Ja’keith Gill). The German developers, a father and son, were almost too cartoonish for my taste, but they gave us a nice pay-off in “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” that was more than just accent humor.
K: Yeah, the whole Hans Gruber conceit of “Germans make good villains, but also they talk funny” got a little old. Hey, what about the band? They delivered some great acting moments in addition to their music.
M: That was great! Went well with the frequent, meta-theatrical fourth-wall breaking, too. But the band was tight and actually should've been louder sometimes. Amplified instruments can sometimes drown out the singing, but there was no danger of that with the really strong voices in this show. Wait – have we forgotten to discuss the wonderfully slimy Stacee Jaxx?
K: The one we love to hate. Stacee Jaxx is a stereotypical superstar sleazeball: an egotistical womanizer used to getting everything he wants. Kadair hit all the right notes with this character. He never just stood still; he struck poses. When he moved, it was always suggestive. And Kadair has a full, flowing mane of hair that definitely added to Jaxx’s rockstar persona. I have to say, it’s a testament to Kadair’s acting versatility that he also had a bit part as Sherrie’s father, and I didn’t even realize it was the same actor until I looked at the program.
M: In a musical significantly inspired by hair bands, it was nice that many in the cast had suitably flowing locks. (Scoble’s bad wig must have been an intentional exception, right?) And that’s the show in a nutshell: Everyone “let their hair down” and did right by the material.
K: Word. Killer jams and rad dance moves. A fun time, for sure.
Rock of Ages runs at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre (311 Riverview Drive, Clinton IA) through July 7, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)242-6760 and visiting ClintonShowboat.org.
