Rock of Ages
Southend Operatic & Dramatic Society
Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea
16th to 19th November 2016
Southend Operatic & Dramatic Society
Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea
16th to 19th November 2016
The announcement from Ozzie Osborne at the beginning of the show informing the audience that a night of musical debauchery and decadence lie ahead, is a clear indicator to Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society’s, shall we say, more traditional patrons, that this may a little different to what they have come to expect from the company.
The other thing you shouldn’t expect from the stage version of Rock of Ages is that it is anything like the film. Yes, the storyline is roughly the same and all the songs are still there with Don't Stop Believing, We’re Not Gonna Make It, Wanted Dead or Alive, I Want to Know What Love Is, and Harden My Heart, to name but a few; but what this stage version gives you is a much more sexed up and without a doubt, more comic portrayal of the musical depicting the small town girl, Sherrie who meets city boy, Drew and their rather diverse journey toward love and a happy ending. What makes it different from most jukebox musicals is that it allows itself to be made fun of - as the SODS Chairman admits, it takes ‘a cheeky wink at the musical genre’.
Set during the tail end of the 1980s the show focuses on the Bourbon Room, one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary rock venues which is threatened to be pulled down to make way for a Footlocker outlet. A last ditch attempt to save it by having Stacee Jaxx and his band appear there to draw in the crowds, would seem like the perfect answer, however, things are turned upside down when Drew mistakenly tries to play cool and implies that Sherrie is just a friend to him and she is lured into the arms of heart throb, Stacee.
Jonny Buxton plays the narrator of the piece, Lonny Barnett, with great confidence, allowing what seems a natural flair for comedy to be fully utilised in a tough role which requires him to build up a rapport with the audience. He does this so well, I’m still not sure how much of his dialogue was actually scripted as he bounced off audience reactions.
Lonny forms a great double act with Dennis Dupree, who runs the Bourbon Room and is played by SODS stalwart, Les Cannon in a part that he looks more than comfortable in and could probably give Willie Nelson a run for his money in the hair and wardrobe department.
There are some wonderful characterisations in this production and I particularly enjoyed young Ewan Dunlop’s completely over-the-top portrayal of Franz Klineman who fabulously took the word ‘camp’ to a whole new level and had me and the audience in stitches. I also adored Nick Bright as selfish, self absorbed rock star, Stacee Jaxx, in a fabulously parodied performance.
Heather Cooper and Phie Carlile, as Regina and Justice respectively, also proved that they could sing as well as act, especially in We’re Not Gonna Take It and Every Rose.
David Watkins did a good job as Drew Boley in only his second show with SODS coping well with the challenging vocals needed for his part, however, Milli-Mae Cage, in her very first performance with the company, as Sherrie, totally blew me away with vocals that completely belie the fact that she is still just 18 years old. I do hope that we will be seeing a lot more of Milli-Mae in future productions.
Vicky Wyatt’s choreography gave us some sexed up ensemble numbers and also some rather impressive pole dancing routines which, I can tell you, steamed up the glasses of one particular gentleman reviewer who happened to be sat next to me!
The responsibility of putting the 'rock' into the show was MD, Keeley Wickham and the band, who are on stage throughout the show and who almost become performers themselves as the Bourbon Room resident band members. They produce a great sound, despite the somewhat hilarious dodgy wigs they've been forced to adorn.
Dodgy wigs aside, Director, Ian Gilbert, has done a great job in giving SODS a new lease of life with Rock of Ages and I commend the Committee for taking on what, I am sure at the time, they must have thought would be a huge risk for the group and its regular audience dynamic.
In a technically demanding production, another wise move was putting Robert Watson in charge of lighting who, I understand, had no less than 360 lighting cues during this show, more than twice as much as an average production requires and certainly didn’t disappoint.
Yes, Rock of Ages has no doubt taken SODS out of their comfort zone in this vocally demanding, high octane and racy production but as the song says, Hit Me With Your Best Shot: and SODS most certainly did. Rock of Ages has given the opportunity for SODS to bring out their naughty side and you know what - I like it!
The other thing you shouldn’t expect from the stage version of Rock of Ages is that it is anything like the film. Yes, the storyline is roughly the same and all the songs are still there with Don't Stop Believing, We’re Not Gonna Make It, Wanted Dead or Alive, I Want to Know What Love Is, and Harden My Heart, to name but a few; but what this stage version gives you is a much more sexed up and without a doubt, more comic portrayal of the musical depicting the small town girl, Sherrie who meets city boy, Drew and their rather diverse journey toward love and a happy ending. What makes it different from most jukebox musicals is that it allows itself to be made fun of - as the SODS Chairman admits, it takes ‘a cheeky wink at the musical genre’.
Set during the tail end of the 1980s the show focuses on the Bourbon Room, one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary rock venues which is threatened to be pulled down to make way for a Footlocker outlet. A last ditch attempt to save it by having Stacee Jaxx and his band appear there to draw in the crowds, would seem like the perfect answer, however, things are turned upside down when Drew mistakenly tries to play cool and implies that Sherrie is just a friend to him and she is lured into the arms of heart throb, Stacee.
Jonny Buxton plays the narrator of the piece, Lonny Barnett, with great confidence, allowing what seems a natural flair for comedy to be fully utilised in a tough role which requires him to build up a rapport with the audience. He does this so well, I’m still not sure how much of his dialogue was actually scripted as he bounced off audience reactions.
Lonny forms a great double act with Dennis Dupree, who runs the Bourbon Room and is played by SODS stalwart, Les Cannon in a part that he looks more than comfortable in and could probably give Willie Nelson a run for his money in the hair and wardrobe department.
There are some wonderful characterisations in this production and I particularly enjoyed young Ewan Dunlop’s completely over-the-top portrayal of Franz Klineman who fabulously took the word ‘camp’ to a whole new level and had me and the audience in stitches. I also adored Nick Bright as selfish, self absorbed rock star, Stacee Jaxx, in a fabulously parodied performance.
Heather Cooper and Phie Carlile, as Regina and Justice respectively, also proved that they could sing as well as act, especially in We’re Not Gonna Take It and Every Rose.
David Watkins did a good job as Drew Boley in only his second show with SODS coping well with the challenging vocals needed for his part, however, Milli-Mae Cage, in her very first performance with the company, as Sherrie, totally blew me away with vocals that completely belie the fact that she is still just 18 years old. I do hope that we will be seeing a lot more of Milli-Mae in future productions.
Vicky Wyatt’s choreography gave us some sexed up ensemble numbers and also some rather impressive pole dancing routines which, I can tell you, steamed up the glasses of one particular gentleman reviewer who happened to be sat next to me!
The responsibility of putting the 'rock' into the show was MD, Keeley Wickham and the band, who are on stage throughout the show and who almost become performers themselves as the Bourbon Room resident band members. They produce a great sound, despite the somewhat hilarious dodgy wigs they've been forced to adorn.
Dodgy wigs aside, Director, Ian Gilbert, has done a great job in giving SODS a new lease of life with Rock of Ages and I commend the Committee for taking on what, I am sure at the time, they must have thought would be a huge risk for the group and its regular audience dynamic.
In a technically demanding production, another wise move was putting Robert Watson in charge of lighting who, I understand, had no less than 360 lighting cues during this show, more than twice as much as an average production requires and certainly didn’t disappoint.
Yes, Rock of Ages has no doubt taken SODS out of their comfort zone in this vocally demanding, high octane and racy production but as the song says, Hit Me With Your Best Shot: and SODS most certainly did. Rock of Ages has given the opportunity for SODS to bring out their naughty side and you know what - I like it!
Ask the Audience
Jason Markham, 52, Hornchurch
“It was certainly very different! I thought it was very well done. It was a good set and the whole lighting of the show was excellent. Everyone in it did well but I particularly enjoyed watching Jonny Buxton and Ewan Dunlop in their parts. Phie Carlile was good but Milli-Mae was absolutely brilliant. I though the second act flowed better than the first and I enjoyed the fact that the band were on stage too.”
“It was certainly very different! I thought it was very well done. It was a good set and the whole lighting of the show was excellent. Everyone in it did well but I particularly enjoyed watching Jonny Buxton and Ewan Dunlop in their parts. Phie Carlile was good but Milli-Mae was absolutely brilliant. I though the second act flowed better than the first and I enjoyed the fact that the band were on stage too.”
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Sharon Markham, 45, Hornchurch “I enjoyed Ewan and Nick Bright stood out. Nick was very believable in his part. I thought Heather Cooper as Regina was a good part.” |
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Director, Ian Gilbert, at the helm, with his cast of Rock of Ages
For tickets go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
Instead of a Thursday matinee, SODS will be performing Rock of Ages at 5pm on Friday 18th November, where students can receive a discount.
Performances are nightly at 8pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.
Photo credits: Stephen Hawke
Instead of a Thursday matinee, SODS will be performing Rock of Ages at 5pm on Friday 18th November, where students can receive a discount.
Performances are nightly at 8pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.
Photo credits: Stephen Hawke