TheatreWorks Florida Takes You Back in Time: 1980's Style with Rock Of Ages By: Coren E. McLeod
TheatreWorks
Florida Takes You Back in Time:
1980’s
Style with Rock Of Ages
By: Coren E. McLeod
Photos
by: Barry Nadler
I
remember being a child in the 1980’s. It
was a more simple time where I knew when it got dark outside, I had to be home
for dinner. I loved watching my older
sister get ready for her school dances with her friends. Her hair was extra big that night and her
dress was really puffy. Hey, that was
the style back then. And the music. Let us not forget about the heart pumping,
ripe roaring sound of the ever powerful music of the 80’s.
TheatreWorks
Florida presents to the lovely Orlando community the production of Rock Of Ages
playing at the Dr. Phillips Center September 28th- October 9th,
2016. I had the pleasure of seeing this
play on opening night. The 1980’s was a
time for a person to truly find who they were in society. Whether you were a small town girl looking to
make it in the big city as an actress.
Or even just a city boy raised in South Detroit wanting to break into
the metal music scene, the 1980’s gave men and women alike that chance to
explore.
Rock
Of Ages is brought to you by director Scott Cook and his vision of his favorite
era. While I was sitting in the audience
that warm Wednesday night, I was excited to really see how Rock Of Ages was
going to be pulled off. And let me just
say, it was very well executed. From the
beginning with the cast of characters coming out singing, to the ensemble
dancing around and the metal group Arsenal head banging; it all worked miraculous
together.
 |
| Drew just wants to ROCK! |
 |
| Oh, Sherrie! |
The
combination of Drew (Justin Scarlet) and Sherrie (Kayla Alvarez) playing off
their puppy love towards one another is extremely addicting to watch. The audience was cheering for these two to
get together right away. However, some
unforeseen obstacles stood in their way especially when Drew refers to Sherrie
as a “friend.” Stacey Jaxx played by
Stephen Alan just gave the right sort of d bag boldness that needed to
challenge the love birds in their quest for 80’s hair metal love.
 |
| Stacey Jaxx |
The
set was brightly covered with elements of 80’s awesomeness thrown in. The Atari sign helped me to relive the
afternoons I would spend playing “Duck Hunter.”
Plus, the thrown about bras across the Bourbon Room makes one feel dirty
yet still want to party with the best of them.
Each
actor/ actress brought an astonishing vocal range that paired very excellent
with the music that was offered during this time era. A couple of standout songs for me were:
“I
Wanna Rock…”
“Harden
My Heart/Shadows of the Night…”
“Wanted
Dead or Alive….”
“Here
I Go Again…”
“High
Enough…”
“Don’t
Stop Believing…”
Two
characters that just made Rock Of Ages a laugh out loud riot were Dennis Dupree
(Casey Sweeny) and Lonny (Christopher Jones).
These two literally had me in stitches watching them try to save their
beloved Bourbon Club for the rest of the employees. When the two break out into “Can’t Fight This
Feeling,” one cannot but burst with fruit flavor of laughter. Lonny was just
the extra comic relief that added some spice when drama was going to take
place.
 |
| Dennis and Lonny |
The
ensemble cast of extras really put forth an effort that tied each scene together
nicely. With the over the top costumes
and the elaborate, huge hair, I enjoyed the hell out of seeing the dedication given
by each member to support this excellent production. Charissa Hope Everett was brilliant with her
twirling and sensational voice.
 |
| Charissa with Arsenal |
Now,
I can’t go without saying something about the band that accompanied Rock Of
Ages so perfectly. Arsenal added a great
deal of #Badass to the already killer play.
Seeing Bobby Keller embrace his role as the lead guitar player of the 80’s
band with such enthusiasm and his sheer bad boy attitude was impressive to
watch. The long hair wig just added more to what was
already tough about Bobby in Rock Of Ages.
 |
| #StellarKeller in Arsenal |
Rock
Of Ages is a significant piece to those who lived the 1980’s. Those who have not will still be able to
laugh and enjoy a good night out in beautiful downtown Orlando.
All in all, TheatreWorks Florida and Scott
Cook truly captured what Rock Of Ages means:
Be loud, Be yourself and most of all:
ROCK!!!!!
Check
out this wonderful production of TheatreWorks Florida production of Rock Of
Ages through October 9th, 2016. Tickets can be purchased at the box office at
Dr. Phillips Center or online at http://www.theatreworksfl.org/.
#Cheers
#BadAss #IWannaRock
- More at UnRatedMagazine.com
Post a Comment