April 8, 2009

'Rock of Ages' powers onto Broadway, cranks it to 11

Either you love loud music, booze, cheesy humor, and Twisted Sister - or you don’t.

And that’s pretty much what sorted the critics this week as they reviewed Broadway’s newest jukebox musical, Rock of Ages, which revolves around the spoof-worthy music of Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Poison, Whitesnake and other ’80s rockers.

Surprisingly, it even elicited good guilty-pleasure reviews from the likes of the New York Times, Variety and NY1.

The show stars Constantine Maroulis of “American Idol” fame, hoping to keep Sunset Strip safe for rock - and win the girl in the process.

Also watch for special events, such as the April 27 post-show performance by Tommy Shaw from STYX and Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon performing their new single, “Can’t Stop Rockin’.”

The show’s official website features a virtual Zippo lighter you can download for your iPhone as well as Pong.

“Rock of Ages” has an open-ended run at the Brooks Atkinson Theater, 256 W. 47th St., map. Regular tickets are priced from $70.50 to $99 with premium seats for $201.50. A pass for the VIP Green Room is a $73.75 investment (but you get access to the bar an hour earlier than other theater-goers.) There is a day-of-show lottery for each performance that could get you a seat for $26.50.

Producers warn “that some of the costumes, dancing and language might not be appropriate for kids under the age of 14.”

And yes, they will serve you drinks at your seat, during the show.

The “Rock of Ages” reviews:

New York Times - “Written with winky wit by Chris D’Arienzo, directed with zest by Kristin Hanggi, sung with scorching heat by a spirited cast, and featuring a towering stack of heavy-rotation favorites from the glory years of MTV — hits from Journey and Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar and Poison, Whitesnake and Twisted Sister — this karaoke comedy about warped-vinyl dreams is about as guilty as pleasures get.”

Variety - ” Every bit as brazen as the yardstick for the genre, “Mamma Mia!,” in wedging hit songs into a purpose-built, featherweight plot, the show has an abiding affection for its inglorious era that goes some way toward selling its brash charms.”

Bloomberg - ““Rock of Ages” is innovative even for the most experienced critics: For the first time, we are asked to review Noise. Not pure noise, to be sure, but noise encroached on by a smattering of unmusical music, stultifying lyrics, banal dialogue and a story that carries triviality to new heights, or lows. It is impure noise, against which the best earplugs offer only partial relief. “

Post - “Not that book writer Chris d’Arienzo and director Kristin Hanggi test our synapses with their tried-and-true story: Rockers fight to keep their Sunset Strip hangout open in the face of gentrification — led, absurdly enough, by Germans itching to bring “a European model of clean, pure, efficient living” to LA.”

NY1 - “This jukebox musical featuring vintage rock tunes from the likes of Twisted Sister and Bon Jovi is sure to turn off some theater purists. But it’s so cleverly staged and impressively performed that it’s an irresistible, offbeat trip of a show that hits all the right notes.”

Associated Press - “Maroulis is complemented by the talented Amy Spanger in the role of Sherrie, the naive actress turned exotic dancer. Spanger, whose Broadway credits include “The Wedding Singer,” “Kiss Me, Kate” and “Chicago,” is perhaps the cast’s most polished, all-around performer.”

Newsday - “The Puckish narrator, Lonny (Mitchell Jarvis, channeling Jack Black from “The School of Rock”) makes fun of everything before you have a chance to. The most successful jokes are the outdated props: denim vests, midriff tees, a cooler full of Bartles & Jaymes. It’s breezy, silly fun, but a genuine musical set against this colorful, chaotic era - the “Rent” of hair-metal - has yet to be written.”

Daily News - “Two key cast changes come with mixed results. The adorable Spanger’s comic expertise adds fresh dimension to her starlet-turned-stripper. Carpinello, meanwhile, is a sinewy singer who can’t shake loose much gleefulness, so the part feels smaller than before.”

New York magazine - “Rock of Ages, which was written by Chris D’Arienzo and directed by Kristin Hanggi, and which played Off Broadway last year, is too full of self-conscious winks, nudges, and wine-cooler jokes to be much fun. There’s energy onstage, all right, but it’s unfocused and muddled.”

Hollywood Reporter - “Instead, just wait for the less-than-subtle cues for such instantly recognizable songs as “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Here I Go Again,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and others, performed at deafening volume by the hard-rocking five-piece onstage band.”

USA Today - “American Idol alumnus Constantine Maroulis has the right gawky sweetness for the male lead but doesn’t appear to realize that he’s part of the joke, and not because of his passing resemblance to former Journey frontman Steve Perry.”

Hartford Courant - “Anyone unfamiliar with the pop music scene of the ’80s will feel lost and bored in ” Rock of Ages,” Chris D’Arienzo’s cynical yet sentimental look back at the wild side of the Sunset Strip.”

amNewYork - “Credit must go to director Kristin Hangii for taking 30 well-known metal rock songs and churning out such a feel-good, tongue-in-cheek experience. “Rock of Ages” may be stupid as hell, but it’s extraordinarily fun and extremely catchy.”

See more reviews at the Critic-O-Meter.

Earlier: The bar is open: ‘Rock of Ages’ begins Broadway run

April 8, 2009 11:06 PM in Broadway, Midtown

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