Bold, Brash, Cheeky And Charming: A Surefire Way To Have A Rip-Roaring Night Out
Loud music, bright lights, and a cast dressed to the nines – key ingredients for a night out at the theatre! The rehearsals are over, and now BATS have taken to the stage and are putting all they’ve got into their latest production, Rock Of Ages.
To take on a show such as Rock of Ages takes strong vocals and a lot of energy, and the BATS company are delivering just that. After watching the rehearsal, I was left excited to see the finished show, and it seems that my excitement was absolutely justified. The opening number has the company singing and promising ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time’ – setting the bar high for the rest of the show…but they’re correct! I definitely had a good time, to say the least!
Under Angus Jacobs’ direction, assisted by Sally Manning, and Colin Gray’s musical direction, the show is a riot from start to finish. The whole cast has taken this show, run with it and put on a hilarious, joyous journey of a rock and roll show.
Leading and narrating the show is Paul Morris as Lonny Barnett. Barnett has a brilliant stage presence; he brings a natural likability to Lonny, and even though he may be ridiculous at times, Barnett’s performance makes it hard not to love him. His commentary and acting choices bring Lonny to life, and at times when he isn’t even the main focus of the scene, he is still hilarious to watch as he reacts to what’s going on.
Often acting opposite Morris is Richard Bond as Dennis Dupree. Similarly, Bond also brings a lighthearted energy to the stage. The pair are comical enough separately, so when they are on stage together, it’s almost a guarantee they’ll get a chuckle out of everyone at the very least. In fact, their performance of ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’ is one of their most shining moments together.
The two love interests within the show are Bradleigh Hall as Drew Boley and Chloe Ballard as Sherrie Christian. Hall and Ballard have good on-stage chemistry together; they bounce off each other well, and their love for each other, both platonically and romantically, feels genuine and warm. ‘I’ve Been Waiting For a Girl (Boy) Like You’ is a beautiful and tender moment between the two and is heartwarming to bear witness to. Both Boley and Ballard embody their characters well and effectively show the emotional journeys Drew and Sherrie go on; the pair’s confidence growing as the show progresses was clearly demonstrated, and their voices, both singularly and together, are rich and with great strength behind them.
Ballard provides a sorrowful and touching rendition of ‘Harden My Heart’, showing the vulnerable side of Sherrie, yet in the same show, can belt a confident and fiery rendition of ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’, showing a whole new side to the character and brilliantly contrasting the two.
Hall has captured the wannabe rockstar of Drew fantastically; Drew’s passion is tangible in ‘I Wanna Rock’, and he does well showing Drew’s slight awkwardness decrease as his confidence increases throughout the show. This progression of his character means we get to really hear the great strength Hall has in his voice across the performance. Granted, the roles of Sherrie and Drew are not always entirely serious, such as is the show, but both Ballard and Hall have found a good balance within their roles of the comical elements to the contrasting sincere scenes.
Stepping into the shoes of Stacee Jaxx, previously made famous by Tom Cruise, is Craig Saunders; a complete opposite to the ‘good’ characters of the show, Saunders does an exceptionally good job at playing a role so sleazy and over the top. Although Stacee Jaxx is not necessarily a good character, Saunders makes the character one who is hugely entertaining to watch. He embodies a physical representation of everything the Sunset Strip and the 80s rock scene are associated with: sex, drugs and rock and roll – aka your typical 80s rock icon, as Saunders adeptly displays in ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’. I also just want to take a moment – a special mention must be made to the fact that he sings part of ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ in Spanish, something that is not an easy feat!
As far from the 80s rockstar lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock and roll as you can get are Regina Koontz and Franz Klinemann, courtesy of Jade Hollingshead and Ben Shallow. Whilst Hollingshead and Shallow don’t have huge amounts of stage time, the time they are on stage, they more than make up for. The silliness of Regina and Franz is endearing, and it’s hard not to smile when they are on stage. The character development from the way we meet the pair at the start to when they take their final bows at the end is splendidly performed by the two. Shallow’s performance of ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ is a real highlight for his character, with an infectious positive vibe radiating from the stage.
Rock of Ages is a show where every cast member is crucial and really makes a difference. The company as a whole have come together and are putting on a show that is far from easy. The remaining company members that make up the excellent cast are Ian Moseley, Laura Burrell, Harrison Crangle, Luke Sayers, Aideen Buckley, Hollie Parks, Jemma Doherty, Stuart Baker, Harriet Brannam, Dave Edwards, Anna Neary, Rachael Powell, Charlotte Savage, Ian ‘Spud’ Smith and Liv Warnes. The band completes the company and are superbly in tune with the cast. Neither one drowns out the other, and both can and should be appreciated. The enthusiasm and dedication of every single person involved with the show is admirably obvious. You can have an epic show, but without the right cast and musicians, the show will not hit the mark. This is far from a problem here; here, BATS have got an epic show, and an equally epic company making it happen.
When I saw the rehearsal, I said I couldn’t wait to see the show with all the finished details bringing everything together, and BATS did not disappoint. The choreography from dance captain Harriet Brannam is perfect with not a step out of place; it is lively, provocative and exuberant – sometimes all at once! The costumes are all things 80s; think tight clothes, cowboy boots, lots of glitter and fringe – camp and iconic. The costumes, set and lights may all be minor details, but they all add up to transform the Haymarket Theatre and transport audiences to the Sunset Strip, all from the comfort of their seats.
Energetic and terrifically fun, BATS have done it again. Everyone involved with Rock of Ages should be well and truly proud of themselves for this immensely enjoyable show they’re staging. I left with a smile on my face, a lighter heart than I went in, and tapping my feet to a song stuck in my head. Rock of Ages may bold, brash, and both cheeky and charming – as befits The Bourbon Room – but it is full of heart and is a surefire way to have a rip-roaring, entertaining night out.
Leyla Demirel
One Show at a Time
