By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO — “If you want something, you just gotta take it.”
Rock of Ages -a rom-com musical with Classic 80s Rock and a greedy corporate villain- is playing at the Cygnet Theatre in Old Town through Aug 25, 2019.
Welcome to The Bourbon Room, a seedy little dive on the Sunset Strip nestled among pawnshops and strip clubs where many rock legends get their start. It’s based on Whiskey A Go Go and according to travel writer Jerry Garrett, “It was an unbelievable scene, that seemed to be going non-stop, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. … Anti-war (Vietnam) demonstrators, rockers and druggies mixed and mashed. The police often got into the act, and many times it did lapse into a full-scale riot.” (www.jerrygarrett.wordpress.com) It’s Just Like Paradise.
Victor E Chan makes an engaging MC as Lonny. Full of humor and rebellious rock energy, he punches holes through the fourth wall like it’s plaster in a cheap apartment after binge drinking.
The story is one we’ve heard many times before. A small town girl, Sherrie, comes to Los Angeles to make it big in show business. After getting her purse snatched, she meets her love interest, Drew, a city boy who’s trying to do the same. Megan Carmitchel, has a sweet naïveté as Sherrie, holding onto big dreams but waking up to harsh realities. Rory Gilbert is very relatable as Drew, a young man who desperately yearns to be a rock star. But he’s kind of a nebbish.
Bryan Banville is a laugh-out-loud riot as Stacee Jaxx, a rock god at the top of his game. Quite full of himself, he struts with the swaggering self-confidence of a man who can have his pick of the floozies for quickies in the toilet. But deep down, he’s empty.
For our villain, John Rosen plays Hertz, a European developer who wants to “clean up” the strip by remaking it in the corporate retail image. He’s accompanied by his nervous nelly of a son, Franz (Zackary Scot Wolfe). But We Built This City on Rock and Roll. This plan puts them at odds with city planner Regina (pronounced with a long “i”). Played by Emma Nossal, Regina is plucky and full of heart. She hates seeing little-guy entrepreneurs replaced by corporate stooges and she’s not afraid to go all out.
Anise Ritchie is a force to be reckoned with as Mama, the owner of the “Gentlemen’s Club” across the street. She once had big dreams of her own, but needed to keep body and soul together. With a warm heart, she takes in lost lambs, then teaches them to hunt like wolves.
Rock of Ages features Classic Rock numbers from Styx, Pat Benatar, Journey, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Damn Yankees … ably rocked out by a killer house band. The picture is completed by a pageant of tight leather pants, bare chests, short skirts, big hair and high heels. Rock of Ages if full of energy with guitar riffs that shake the rafters and love songs that take you back to your first kiss.
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Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com