IT’S GETTIN’ DIFFICULT TO NOT STOP BELIEVIN’

It’s no accident that Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’†came from an album entitled Escape, because that is what I wanted to do from The Pantages as of the first scene in Rock of Ages. This nitwit of a musical uses Chris D’Arienzo’s preposterous book to showcase music of the 1980s’ longhair bands. It’s boring, loud, and insultingly stupid. Of course, Constantine Maroulis is stunningly talented in the lead, but it breaks my heart that someone like him lives in a land that makes him a star on American Idol, but then he winds up in this shi’â€er, show. Is this really the best thing for him and for all of the amazing talent on that stage? The poor cast had to speak ridiculous lines and act like complete idiots in musical comedy roles that would have been deemed too broad for the 1930s. At least the spectacular band had great music to work with, assuming you’re into 1980s rock (which I am).

As these jukebox musicals begin to grow in theaters like a fungus, I have to convince myself that they won’t cut off the oxygen the American Musical Theater needs to survive. I must not let myself stop believin’.

photo by Winslow Townson

Rock of Ages
reviewed at Hollywood Pantages
ends Â in Los Angeles on February 27, 2011

tour continues through Â June 26, 2012
tour EXTENDED Â through May, 2013
tour extended indefinitely (currently selling through 2017)
for a list of cities, tour dates, and tickets, visit Rock of Ages