REVIEW: If head-banging and air drumming is your thing then Offaly musical society's show is for you

Rock n'roll, big hair and a good dollop of sexism – 80s style!

That's the package which Tullamore Musical Society has brought to the stage this week at the Esker Arts Centre with its spectacular production of “Rock of Ages”.

The show is a must see for all refugees from the 80s and an upbeat celebration of the excesses of that decade.

If head-banging and air drumming is your thing, then “Rock of Ages” will prove a real treat.

While the costumes and the set capture the feel of the 80s, the decade is really brought to life by the show's many musical numbers.

The cast blast out of the hits of the decade with gusto, including, “We Built This City”, “I Want to Know What Love Is”, “The Final Countdown” and “Heading Towards Venus”.

But perhaps the highlights of the show for any signed up member of the 80s nostalgia club are the finales at the end of both acts which literally had some more daring members of the capacity audience dancing in their seats on opening night last weekend.

Act One finishes off with “Here I Go Again”, sung by the entire company, backed by the accomplished in-house band, while the show finishes on a high with maximum audience participation guaranteed in The Company's hit, “Don't Stop Believin'”.

Set in 1987, “Rock of Ages” storyline revolves around the fabled West Hollywood club, the Bourbon Room, correctly described in the show's polished programme, edited by TMS Chairperson Colin Hughes, as the “seedy, sordid, vibrant heart of the Sunset Strip.”

The music venue has seen better days, but as run by chilled-out former rock impresario, Dennis Dupree (Stephen Keegan), and tended to by his mischievous assistant Lonny (Chris Corroon), it is the essence of rock n'roll.

When bright-eyed young hopeful, Sherrie Christian (Jessie Woods), a small-town girl arrives, against the wishes of her parents (Bláthnaid Fitzsimons and Ron Kelly), she bumps into Drew (Jordan Bass), a Bourbon Rom busboy with dreams of rock n'roll stardom.

Drew is love-struck immediately and he convinces Dennis to hire Sherrie and the stage seems set for romance.

But when the Mayor of West Hollywood (Liam Cushen), persuaded by a couple of scheming German real estate developers waving wads of cash - Hertz (Liam Egan) and his son, Franz (Barry Dunne) – announces his intention to demolish the famous club and the entire Sunset Strip the stakes are raised.

Dennis convinces rock-god Stacee Jaxx (Stephen Rabbette), lead singer of megaband Arsenal, to play the band's last show at the Bourbon Room, hopeful that the money raised will stop the building from being demolished.

But Stacee, a man of huge ego and massive charisma, causes chaos, leaves destruction in his wake and drives a wide between Drew and Sherrie.

Meanwhile a spirited defence is mounted against the demolition by feisty Regina (Natalee Kelly) and her team and in the midst of the protests, Drew falls into the clutches of a boy-band while Sherrie flees to a nearby strip club.

The ensuing mayhem is a joy to behold as we all ponder as to who can save the young lovers and the legendary club.

Laughs are provided throughout the show by the feuding German father-and-son team and Lonny, the “dramatic conjurer”.

As we have come to expect from past productions by TMS, the show is a tour-de-force with performances of a very high standard from all the cast, particularly Jessie Woods, Jordan Bass, Chris Corroon and Stephen Keegan.

Stephen Rabettee is suitably sleazy as the charismatic Stacee Jaxx while the feuding Germans, Barry Dunne and Liam Egan, complete with Tuetonic twangs, provide much laughter.

The familiar money-grabbing politician is ably portrayed by Liam Cusen as the Mayor while Natalee Kelly is a force to be reckoned with as the bolshy Regina.

The unsung heroes of TMS' “Rock of Ages” production are the in-house band, who provide the backing to an unbelievable 22 numbers of 80s hits.

The impressive Esker Arts Centre is an ideal venue for such a show, something commented upon by TMS Chairperson, Colin Hughes at the close of last Saturday night's patrons' performance.

The show continues all week at the High St venue - but, unsurprisingly, it has been a sell-out for sometime.

CAST

Principals: Jordan Bass – Drew; Jessie Woods – Sherrie; Chris Corroon – Lonny; Stephen Keegan – Dennis; Stephen Rabbette – Stacee Jaxx; Ruth Kelly – Justice; Liam Egan – Hertz; Barry Dunne – Franz; Natalee Kelly – Regina; Amanda Cunningham – Waitress; Sinead Handy – Constance; Bláthnaid Fitzsimons – Mother; Ron Kelly – Father; Jamie O'Callaghan – Joey Prince; Ger Dunne – Ja'Keith; Liam Cushen – Mayor.

MALE ENSEMBLE

George Ross and Zion Powell.

FEMALE ENSEMBLE

Aisling Geoghegan, Ruth Kelly, Emma Dench, Fiona Geoghegan, Aoife Fitzsimons, Ciannait Goulding, Dubhán Goulding, Gillian Harrington, Eimear Doolin, Gemma Smith, Gráinne Donoghue, Kaitlin O'Brien, Lisa Fitzpatrick, Seana Stenson, Deborah Stenson, Trish Fleming, Sheila Crowe, Kathleen Whelan, Ann Whelan, Georgie O'Toole, Mairéad Brennan, Anna Slevin.

THE BAND

Guitar 1 - Ed Phelan; Guitar 2 - Rick Harris; Bass - John O'Dwyer; Drums - Derek Doyle; Keyboard - Enda O'Connor.

PRODUCTION

Director/ Choreographer: Claire Tighe

Music Director: Enda O'Connor

Set Design & Construction: Wayne Handy, All Set Scenery

Stage Manager: Wayne Handy

Stage Crew: Damien Cornally, Michael Kidney, Jimmy Kidney, Hugh Handy

Lighting: Roken Lighting, Ronan Kenny

Sound: Jason Fallon & Jody Trehy at All Around Sound

Props Co-ordinator: TMS Committee

Costume Design & Co-ordinator: Claire Tighe & Colin Hughes, assisted by Bláthnaid Fitzsimons and Sheila Crowe

Costumes supplied by: TheatreworX Productions

Rehearsal co-ordinator: John Conroy

Front of House Manager: Colin Hughes

Front of House Team: Brian Gunning, Carla Carey, Fiona Goulding, Martin Goulding, Frankie O'Reilly, John Conroy, Margaret Dunne, Mary Dwyer, Regina McCarhty, Yvonne Murray

Programme Editor: Colin Hughes

Photography: Stephen Rabbette with additional photographs from Ger Rogers and Tom O'Hanlon

Appreciations: Brian Gunning

Poster and programme print and design: Brosna Press

Patrons and Sponsors Officers: Ruth Kelly & Colin Hughes

Esker Arts Production Credits: Sean Walsh, Lee Hamill and Ciarán Whelan