Boy
meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Boy and girl have a
misunderstanding and part. Boy and girl live 'happily ever after'. A
plot as old as theatre is but "Rock of Ages" has a few twists such as
the writer of the book, Chris D' Arienzo, telling the story with tongue
firmly in cheek and, most, actors going over the top, making you laugh
at cliches you have heard thousands of times. They know how to work
parody and satire to the degree called for. Two months into the tour
"Rock of Ages" arrived last night at the Broward Performing Arts Center
ready to rock the crowd of all ages and the company did just that!

Most
of all, in what is referred to as a 'jukebox musical', the 80s arena
rock songs are integrated into the book almost flawlessly. You won't
hear "Can't Fight This Feeling"  thinking of it in the way you always
have before. When Regina and Franz declare their love with "Hit Me With
Your Best Shot" you will forever hear Franz saying, "I am not gay, I am
German!"  The songs range from Steve Perry and Neal Schon's "Anyway You
Want It" to "Waiting For A Girl Like You" written by Michael Leslie
Jones and Louis Gramattico. There are over 30 songs from those that rock
the house to the ones that move that same house gently.

Songs
are used to express protest, love, desires, dreams, wanting and having
sex not to forget that happy ever after. Then there is the theme for
presidential elections, the theme for/from the 80s and 90s that always
gets the crowd on their feet swinging side to side and if not actually
singing then mouthing the words of "Don't Stop Belivin". The music
drives the plot and the actors.

Constantine
Maroulis is 'starred' but it is Patrick Lewallen, as Lonny the
narrator, and Travis Walker, as Franz, that steal the musical comedy
from everyone in the cast. The former milks every gag possible from the
script, and adds a few of his own, while the latter has a body that
makes a pretzel look stiff.

Maroulis
certainly has the voice and sings the songs as they should be sung but
looks a bit too old for the role and though he has been playing the part
for over 2 years he doesn't quite get it over. He, also, has problems
with his hair, especially keeping it tame behind his left ear! Rebecca
Faulkenberry, as the girlfriend, has a powerhouse voice. Casey Tuomi, as
Regina, Franz's love interest is hit and miss in her role while Nick
Cordero, as the club owner Dennis, shines in his duet with Lewallen and
in the group songs. As the rock star Stacee Jaxx, MiG Ayesa has all the
moves while Teresa Stanley as Justice does the most she can with a
stereotypical role.

This is a rock
musical comedy with all the guitar riffs, high hair-dos, pounding beats,
group songs and dancing, high and low comedy, sight gags, spoofs,
snarling commentary, that ends with the audience on their feet swaying,
clapping, holding up those battery powered lighters and, yes, singing
"Don't Stop belivin"!

Act 1  1 hour and 11 minutes    Intermission  23 ninutes   Act 2 1 hour and 2 minutes   Total  2 hours and 36 minutes

Future tour cities: Orlando, Clearwater, Louisville

Strobe lights, smoke

Next
shows presented by Broadway Across America at the Broward Performing
Arts Center:  Les Miserables January 18-30, West Side Story February
15-27, Wicked March 30-April 24, Hair June 7-19 and Mamma Mia! July
19-24