A ROLLICKING ’50S ERA ROMP
Well, I’m not going to fib here and try to convince you that I don’t enjoy a good ’50s musical, especially one that connects Canada’s historical contributions to the early days of rock ’n’ roll.
Many decades ago when I was just a young lad going to my first live concert, the act happened to be a greaser band out of Vancouver called Teen Angel & The Rockin’ Rebels. Covering all the early hits of the rock ’n’ roll era (much like Sha Na Na was doing to great success), that band came to mind while I was sitting in on Stage West Calgary’s latest production, Red Rock Diner.
This show is a loosely based biography of a year in the life of Vancouver DJ Red Robinson, a pioneer in rock radio, and also the DJ who famously hosted one of Elvis Presley’s few Canadian appearances. Presley is just one name connected to his career from those days when The Beatles, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly were exploding onto the musical landscape.
Red Rock Diner uses 1957 as the plot-point touchstone (such as plot ever comes into play here) for a collection of great musical performances and reminisces about Robinson’s radio antics, many of which are still copied one way or another by peers to this day.
The production is divided into a first half mostly conducted from a broadcast booth, then picks up with Robinson hosting a school dance, all of which is just a backdrop to highlight the doo-wop and musical greats of the day, including Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, Bill Haley, as well as the aforementioned Holly and Elvis.
Set design is terrific, as are sound and lighting. Director and choreographer David Connolly has recruited a cast that is amply capable of the rigorous songs and dancing routines that are relentlessly energetic, start to finish.
You may wonder where the heck musical director Konrad Pluta and his house band are throughout the first half, but all is well and revealed for the start of the final act. You do know that it’s a live band at one point when a sax player casually strolls onstage to perform a solo.
Scott Beaudin, Ben Chaisson and Carter Easler are part of an ensemble that showcases the great songs of the ’50s, and provides laughs as a variety of characters, even given some of the corny nature of the comedy. But that is totally in line with Robinson’s career-building hijinks. I have to give an extra measure of note here for Easler’s stellar rendition of Cry, quite possibly one of the best performances I’ve seen in this space.
Lee-Anne Galloway and Sarah Higgins tackle even more demanding musical performances (including several tap routines from Galloway), as well as an audience participation segment that was the runaway winning moment of the show this night. You can never predict how well this will go, and it will be different every time.
Ben Cookson was an excellent choice to portray Robinson, as he has charisma and stage presence to spare. His vocals and energy were enthusiastic to the end, as he clearly relished the opportunity to crack wise and relive some of Red’s classic radio moments.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive storyline, you will be hard-pressed to find that in Red Rock Diner. But for a couple of hours, you will certainly enjoy a strong cast covering the hits of the day from the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame DJ’s early days steeped in the richest vein of music greats.