So, I Saw ROCK OF AGES Today

I saw ROCK OF AGES for the first time today. I never saw it Off-Broadway.

I have a bunch of different reactions.

The theatre snob in me thought it was horrendously awful, and how dare this show inhabit a Broadway theatre!?

Another part of me had heard so many treacherous things about the show prior to going in that now that I've seen it, I'm kind of surprised that it wasn't THAT bad. I was expecting much worse of a nightmare.

It wasn't my kind of show. That's for sure. However, there is an audience for this show, and they were there today. They weren't the type of crowd I'm used to seeing in a Broadway theatre, but there they were. Cheering. Singing along. Laughing their tuchuses off. Screaming. And having the time of their lives.

As much as I disliked the show, I couldn't leave that theatre today saying that 99% of that house didn't leave just as joyous as I was appalled.

As much as I would rather have paid to see "my kind of show" today, I can't not recognize the truth that pretty much everyone else there got their money's worth.

The critics will tear it to shreds.

But with the word of mouth of all of those folks around me today, and some smart marketing, ROCK OF AGES could be inhabiting the Brooks-Atkinson for quite a long time.

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Updated On: 4/5/09 at 07:29 PM

I haven't seen it, and probably won't, since I don't care for that kind of '80's music. Broadway's big enough for ROA, though. I do hope they run awhile. Sounds like the audience is enjoying it, and who knows? Maybe they'll like it enough that they'll come back to see something a little more traditional next time.

Carpinello delivered vocally. His character was a complete idiot. So if that's the way he was supposed to act, I suppose his acting was fine, too.

I don't remember straight rock stars dressing that way in the '80s, though.

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Glad to hear it has some sort of audience. I have no interest in seeing it but I definitely know who to recommend it to.

Rentboy- My sister actually coined that phrase regarding Menopause the Musical. It works quite well.

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Just be patient, oh my brother. It's on Broadway now, and likely the critics will tear it apart, as they often do productions that they think should have stayed off broadway. Just think how happy you'll be crowing "I told you so!" should Wannabe and I be wrong. Doesn't matter - it'll probably have a decent run anyway.

I am oddly fascinated to discover exactly what kind of show would please the unpleasables here on BwayWld. It really seems like everything in the vast vast world of musical theatre has SOMEone who hates it venomously. I would pity poor Richard and Oscar if they had to live in the musical theatre world we've created for ourselves.

Incidentally, Rock of Ages is a very well constructed VERY old-fashioned musical comedy, all the Golden Age tropes are there. It just happens to be told with Whitesnake and Poison songs instead of Rodgers or Gershwin songs. Will it revolutionize the form or even the industry? No. So what? People are employed, audiences are enjoying it. Who are you to say they can't or shouldn't?

To quote Helen Reddy...

There's room for everyone in this world
If everyone makes some room
Won't you move over and share this world
Everyone make some room

Even a dragon deserves a place
A wide open space with no reins, no chains
He wants to play games, dance with you
Give him a chance to sing his song
He only wants to belong

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5J8ZgRUQHA

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I am addressing strictly the comment; not the show:

If "people are employed" is one of the best things you can say about a show....I think something is wrong.

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Just to re-iterate my opinion before I write the following comment, I don't "like" this show, but for what it is, I had fun with it and think anyone who enjoys this music and has capacity for "theatre junk food" will at least get a modicum of enjoyment out of it.

But, in regards to all the above comments: does anything think that maybe, just maybe, the critics might NOT kill it?

Objectively -- and I know this is going to throw all the gays on here into a tizzy -- I don't think ROCK OF AGES is that far below XANADU in terms of "quality," and the critics certainly surprised by being able to deal with that show on its own terms (i.e.: "for what it was") and acknowledging it as "silly fun" and the like.

I'm not saying ROCK OF AGES is going to get good reviews, but I'm really starting to get the feeling it's not going to be the critical whipping boy it's become on these boards. I'm not going to be bold enough to predict it, but I could feasibly envision Isherwood giving it a semi-positive review.

Updated On: 4/6/09 at 02:01 AM

Sorry if I offended you ghostlight.

For the record, I'm gay, and I like XANADU well enough -- that comment just stems from every theatre gay friend of mine being more defensive, vocal and filled with love/joy over XANADU than seemingly anything else I've heard them talk about in years.

After reading countless posts here on how "bad" Rock of Ages was...I went out on a limb and saw it because I really do like 80's music.
I was really surprised by how much I loved it.
No, it's not a deep piece of theater, but it's employing a lot of actors, techs, etc and it's getting people who normally don't go see shows into a theater.
In the economic situation we're in and all of the suffering theaters around the country, we should be happy...heck, even jumping for joy, that new shows are even hitting Broadway. And that people are going to see them...even...*selling out* (the night that i went the show was sold out) the house is fantastic!
All I'm saying is, critique the show all you want, but don't go as far as saying that it has no right to be on Broadway...because I think every show has a right to be there as long as it's employing people and bringing patrons into the seats.

"Incidentally, Rock of Ages is a very well constructed VERY old-fashioned musical comedy, all the Golden Age tropes are there."
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GM, agreed. It is a bit like a Feydeau farce. It accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do.

It only appears to have become a "critical whipping boy" on this board because of the turgid prose favored by some insecure snobs in this place. I know enough theater lovers who enjoyed the show and went back again. Even theater snobs wanna have fun. There is room for it all.