Rock of Ages: Broadway Across Canada Comes to the NAC
Photo. Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — When a guy pretends to play guitar using a toilet plunger, you suspect a send-up of rock ‘n’ roll is be about to engulf you. Which – in addition to spoofing musicals generally and not taking itself particularly seriously – is the order of the day for Rock of Ages, the comic rock musical set in the 1980s when big hair, glam metal bands and bombast ruled the rock record charts.
Although the second act gets sluggish (mostly because of Chris D’Arienzo’s overly long script), the touring production of this silly, unsubtle and totally entertaining show is as undeniably winning as a smile from Ronald Reagan.
The story involves a couple of rock star wannabes, Chicago-born Drew and small-town gal Sherrie, who land in Hollywood in the 1980s looking to make it big. They don’t of course, but along the way they fall in love, tangle with a bad boy rock star Stacee Jaxx (played by Tom Cruise in the 2012 film version of the musical), get their hearts broken, realize that fame is overrated and end up more contented than they ever thought they’d be………..
National Arts Centre Southam Hall . Tickets: NAC box office, 1-888-991-2787, ticketmaster.ca.