As jukebox musicals go, I'm not really a fan of them. I much prefer a musical to have a score that is completely original to the show itself rather than having well-known songs threaded through a usually weak storyline. However, Rock of Ages is just a bit of enjoyable fun and, to be honest, I would rather watch it on stage over the movie any day. Rock of Ages does certainly not take itself seriously and throughout the show the narrator, Lonny, is constantly breaking the 'fourth wall' and interacting directly with the audience. It's a good thing this isn't a serious show otherwise I would be criticising the predictability of the ending and the stereotypes that are flung here, there and everywhere. Jukebox musicals rely on the audience liking the songs in it. You wouldn't get a person who didn't like Abba's music going to see Mamma Mia, and I think that might be where Rock of Ages downfall is. I admit I enjoyed it, but I love the music and I feel like that's why I found it entertaining. I couldn't say the same for Chris O'Arienzo's book, which I found to be bare and desperately in need of something more. I felt like it was a shame the book wasn't that great to compliment the performers' acting skills because they were all clearly capable of something much more challenging, but they all worked with the wafer-thin plot lines with great prowess. Stephen Rolley, the alternate for Drew, was brilliant in the role and has fantastic rock vocals, leading me to wonder why he was only the alternate and not the lead. Ben Richards made a surprisingly outstanding Stacee Jaxx, but my favourite performer of the night was Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Lonny) who improved during a scene which sent the audience into hysterics. His comedic timing is perfect. The main plot revolved around the struggling love story between wannabe stars Sherrie and Drew, who's relationship is being threatened to be torn apart by the sexy god-like rockstar, Stacee Jaxx. However, I was much more interested in the sub-plot going on in the background which focused on protests, led by Regina, against two German city-planners who wanted to demolish the Sunset Strip. The relationship between Regina and Franz was the highlight of the show for me (and their hilarious dance moves during the number 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot'). Rock of Ages proved to be a huge hit on Broadway with five Tony nominations, favourable reviews from the critics and the audience, and is still running now. The same can not be said for the show in London's West End, which was subject to appalling reviews and eventually closed last year. Flaws aside, the show is enjoyable, light entertainment and is worth seeing, but it's nothing unique or special. __________________________________________________________ Rating: ★★★ Comment: I may be bias because I've never been a huge fan of jukebox musicals, but it's far from the best show I've ever seen. I cannot deny that it's fun and energetic, but I came out the theatre singing all of the 80's rock songs rather than remembering the actual plot. Probably my favourite jukebox musical though, if I'm honest. | Have you seen Rock of Ages? Do you agree or disagree with any of the points I have made? If so, I'd love to here from you so send me a message and let me know which production you saw! |
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*WARNING* There may be spoilers for the following shows so don't read if you don't want to know! 10) For Good - Wicked [2003]
9) Not My Father's Son - Kinky Boots [2013]
8) The I Love You Song - 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee [2005]
7) Dyin' Ain't So Bad - Bonnie and Clyde [2011]
6) The Letter - Billy Elliot [2005]
5) Pretty Funny - Dogfight [2013]
4) I Am the One (reprise) - Next To Normal [2009]
3) Once Upon a Time / Cross - Bare the musical [2000]
2) Those You've Known - Spring Awakening [2006]
1) I Hate You - If/Then [2014]
Do you have any more songs to add to the list? Do you agree or disagree with the songs I have chosen? If so, I'd love to here from you so send me a message!
The Capitol building is pretty damn fabulous, and as much as I wanted to say the same about the White House, I found it to be smaller than the way I had imagined it. I think the movie White House Down has distorted my image of the White House. They make appear to be so much larger in that movie! My personal favourite part of Washington was visiting the Lincoln memorial. If you know me well, you'll know that Abraham Lincoln is my all-time favourite American president (and the fact that this humongous statue is featured in the Planet of the Apes movie just made me love it all the more so). Whilst I had thought the White House and Liberty Bell were smaller than what I had expected them to be, the Lincoln Memorial was FREAKIN' HUGE. I couldn't believe it. Cool fact about the Lincoln memorial: his left hand is clenched to illustrate the stress he was under during the American civil war, but his right hand is relaxed to demonstrate his light-going nature.
Going back to New York City after this for four extra days was my favourite part of this entire trip. When we first arrived, we only got to spend one full day there so I couldn't wait to get back. Plus, after already being here I felt like we now knew the area a little better. Our hotel was just around the corner from the glorious Central Park. This is most definitely my favourite place in New York. It's so serene yet completely full of life. In the middle of a concrete city, it's bizarre that there's a huge section of trees. It's like magical forest in a fairytale land. We walked all the way from our hotel to Times Square by going through Central Park and up 5th Avenue. We didn't even get to explore half of the park and yet we felt as though we had. I'm just trying to put into perspective how big and wonderful it is. I would love to go back to NYC just to explore there. The iconic Statue of Liberty was everything I hoped it would be, and more. It's weird because I feel like I know Lady Liberty so well after seeing her in various movies, tv shows and photographs and yet this was the first time I'd ever seen her with my own eyes. It was surreal. Afterwards we headed up to Liberty Helicopters, near the Brooklyn Bridge, and took a glorious 12-15 minute helicopter ride. If you think New York city is great on the ground, you should see it from the sky. Absolutely magnificent! As well as this, we also did both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock. We did the Empire State Building at night. I just remember gazing in awe at the city below me which, because of the lights, looked like a jewel mine. It was so beautiful. Rockefeller was done during the day. I actually preferred Top of the Rock to the Empire State Building. I think it's because you could see Central Park whereas the view of it from the Empire State building is obstructed. And seeing as Central Park is my one true love in NYC, I loved the Top of the Rock more. Going back to the 9/11 memorial was something we felt like we had to do because we didn't really spend much time at it the first time around. The tribute centre was a place where the memory of the victims and the memories of all those who were affected by the events on 9/11 are preserved. There was a board where visitors had wrote down or illustrated a picture of their own experiences on 9/11 and the feelings they had towards those terrible events. It was heart-wrenching, I'll admit, but I don't think you can go to New York City and not go and pay your respects to all those innocent victims. I had very large expectations of the Natural History museum because of the movie Night at the Museum, however it did not live up to them. After having quite enjoyed the Natural History Museum in London, I didn't really like this one at all. I found it to be 'too modern' and not the way I expected it to be at all. They didn't even have the skeleton of the T-Rex in the entrance like they do in the movie - it was on the fourth floor. But using the subways were fun. That was a lie, they were not fun at all. Admittedly it's a quick way to get about, but as a person who actually enjoys travelling on the London Underground, in comparison then New York Subway was not at all up to the same standard. I found it to be dirty, slow and unnecessarily complicated. Plus, the lines don't really run up one side of Manhattan Island and they're all in straight lines, which doesn't make sense to me. But it got us places and that's the main thing. The food in New York, oh my gosh, it is great. Ellen's Stardust Diner, recommended to me by a good friend, was possibly my favourite restaurant as the army of singing waiters was enough to make me fall head-over-heels in love. It was like Broadway and a meal all-in-one. Schmackary's cookies are so incredible. I had a S'chmores cookie. And it's true what they say, Juniours really does have the best cheesecake in New York City. The only way I can describe the taste of their cheesecake would be with the words ' utter paradise'. As my brother went to watch the World Cup final with my dad in an Irish pub, my mum and I set off to see another show - the Tony winning A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder [of which you can read my review of it here]. I couldn't have chosen a better show to go and see. It was hilarious and I cannot even begin to tell you how much I adored it. I've heard rumours of a West End transfer so here's to hoping that comes true! Let's just end with me saying that it was one hell of a trip! [Take a look at my video montage of my time away] (link coming soon) |
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