Rock of Ages
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton – 2016
“Let’s Do This!”
In the late 1980s, an aspiring rocker, Drew, works as a busboy in the trademark Hollywood bar/club The Bourbon Room. He falls instantly for a cute girl, Sherrie, who arrives from Kansas hoping to make it big in acting. After being hired by the bar, Sherrie accepts Drew’s invitation to have a picnic at a place overlooking Los Angeles. There, he mistakenly suggests that the two are just friends. Later, at the Bourbon Room, ladies’ man and lead singer for his band Arsenal, Stacee Jaxx, will be playing that night and instantly hits it off with Sherrie and the two have sex in the bar’s bathroom. Subsequently, Drew proves his musical ability in the club and is chosen to open for Stacee. A record producer in the club offers Drew a contract, which he accepts.
Meanwhile, German city developers, Hertz and his son Franz, convince the city’s mayor to abandon the “sex, drugs and rock-n-roll” lifestyle of the Sunset Strip to introduce “clean living” into the area. It is revealed that the club will be torn down in the process, much to the anger of the Mayor’s city planner, Regina.
Initially embarrassed when they meet on the street, Drew later tells Sherrie that he was angry that she left him for Stacee, but she did not think Drew liked her, since he said the two were just friends. After arguing in the street, Sherrie announces that she had actually liked Drew, but she is now over him. Sherrie becomes upset at Stacee’s uncaring nature (he continually calls her “Rachel” for starters). Drew’s rocker image has been changed to that of a boy band by his new record producer. An upset Sherrie meets “Mama”, the owner of a nearby strip club (though she clearly prefers the term “gentleman’s club”). She relates to Sherrie’s story, saying that many of the small-town girls hoping to hit it big in LA end up making a living as strippers. Much to her dislike, she accepts Mama’s offer to work in her club.
Stacee arrives at the club and is pleased to see Sherrie there, though Sherrie is not happy to see Stacee. Drew arrives to admit his feelings to her, but become disheartened when he sees the two in a suggestive position. Mama later tells Drew that as soon as he left, Sherrie punched Stacee in the jaw.
Regina continues her protest against the destruction of the Strip, but yields no success. She convinces Franz to stand up to his father if he does not believe in this cause. Franz admits he’s had dreams of his own, namely to open a confectioner’s store back home in Germany. He finally rebels against his father and admits his love for Regina. Finally, Sherrie and Drew let bygones be bygones and rekindle their love for each other. The Bourbon Room is spared demolition and wash-up Stacee Jaxx has since moved to Uruguay. His position in Arsenal is replaced with Joey Primo. Everyone celebrates.
Production Team
Director – Ben Cole
Musical Director – Adam Joy
Choreographer – Claire Flavell
Cast
| Character |
Name
|
|---|---|
| Drew | David Walters |
| Sherrie | Olivia Jones |
| Lonny | Simon Pugh |
| Dennis Dupree | Greg Yates |
| Stacee Jaxx | Lyndon Flavell |
| Justice | Sarah Moors |
| Hertz Klinemann | Simon Peacock |
| Franz Klinemann | George Stuart |
| Regina | Emma Wetherall |
| Mayor | Elliot Mann |
| Waitress #1 | Kim Lavender |
| Father | Adam Partridge |
| Mother | Laura Stanford |
| Jackie Gill | Salli Gage |
| Constance | Katie Walker |
| Joey Primo | Adam Partridge |
| Featured Dancers | |
| Venus Dancers | |
| Destiny | Anna Forster |
| Sapphire | Niamh Allen |
| Crystal | Gemma Scattone |
| Claire Flavell | |
| Lisa Metcalfe | |
| Shelley Squire | |
| Protesters | |
| Amy Evans | |
| Jordanne Farley-Moss | |
| Becky Thorne | |
| Fiona Winning | |
| Rockers | |
| Rose Broadfield | |
| Jayne Guest | |
| Beth Logan | |
| Chloe Lowe | |
| Sophie Simmons | |
| Molly Williams |