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
Hold on to your double denim and neon glow sticks folks! SODS latest production, Rock of Ages, promises to have you backcombing your way back into the 1980s, where not only music was making a statement, but crazy fashion and big hair-do’s also had equal impetus in the intoxicating world of rock.
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With songs such as 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, Rock of Ages will take you back to eighties Hollywood, where the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net hairspray, lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strip's last legendary venues; a place where sex machine, Stacee Jaxx, takes to the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality?
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Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner), Drew, longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it’s too late
Some of the cast in rehearsal
SODS’ creative team will probably be the first to admit that this production is as far away as you can get from their last show, Hello Dolly, however, Rock of Ages seems to have brought in a breath of new life into the Society, introducing no less than six new young members to one of Southend’s longest running am dram groups. One of them is Milli-Mae Cage, who has won the coveted role of Sherri.
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Milli-Mae, 18, from Leigh-on-Sea is clearly thrilled to have landed such a great part. She is currently studying Musical Theatre at South Essex College and only found out about the part being up for grabs from friends who were already members of the Society. “I’ve always wanted to do am dram,” says the former MAPA student, “and when my friends told me that Rock of Ages was the next show, I knew I wanted to audition.” Up against seven other girls for the part of Sherri, Milli-Mae certainly had her work cut out at auditions especially, she informs me, as she had a Psychology exam the day after!
“I’ve been made to feel so welcome and I get on really well with David Watkins (Drew), who I’m playing opposite,” she smiles, “rehearsals have been good fun and Ian (Gilbert) has been a great director.” |
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Although Ian Gilbert has directed before with SODS he wasn’t originally on board to direct Rock of Ages but, with the sudden ill health of its original director, Ian was asked to take over with just 9 weeks to go before curtain up. “When I took over morale was, understandably, quite low. I also only had half the time that we usually have to essentially make a show."
With the help of creative team, Vicky Wyatt (choreography), Keeley Wickham (MD) and the cast, Ian strongly feels that the Society has now been galvanised and is proud to say that they have a great production that audiences will love.
So what can audiences expect to see?
“It’s going to be a high octane, high energy, feel-good show with plenty of humour,” Ian declares. “Basically it’s going to be a great night out, especially with Jonny Buxton at the helm!”
With the help of creative team, Vicky Wyatt (choreography), Keeley Wickham (MD) and the cast, Ian strongly feels that the Society has now been galvanised and is proud to say that they have a great production that audiences will love.
So what can audiences expect to see?
“It’s going to be a high octane, high energy, feel-good show with plenty of humour,” Ian declares. “Basically it’s going to be a great night out, especially with Jonny Buxton at the helm!”
Jonny Buxton has long been a familiar face in Southend Operatic & Dramatic Society and will be playing Lonny Barnett, the show’s narrator. Ian tells me, “Jonny has a lot of interaction with the audience and he loves to play off the crowd - sometimes a bit too much. I have to keep telling him, ‘Jonny, remember it’s meant to be a 2 hour show?’”
Jonny, 27, loves that he gets a chance to break the fourth wall and talk to the audience. The part of Lonny is quite a step away from the usual classical roles he has previously played with SODS.
“It’s been a change to what I’m used to but I’ve really enjoyed and relished the opportunity to embrace the rock style of singing that’s needed for this part.”
He adds, “I think it’s great that SODS are stepping away from their comfort zone and it’s refreshing to have new talent in the group.”
“I think people will view SODS in a whole new light after seeing Rock of Ages.”
Jonny, 27, loves that he gets a chance to break the fourth wall and talk to the audience. The part of Lonny is quite a step away from the usual classical roles he has previously played with SODS.
“It’s been a change to what I’m used to but I’ve really enjoyed and relished the opportunity to embrace the rock style of singing that’s needed for this part.”
He adds, “I think it’s great that SODS are stepping away from their comfort zone and it’s refreshing to have new talent in the group.”
“I think people will view SODS in a whole new light after seeing Rock of Ages.”
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