The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Supersonic ‘Rock of Ages’ explodes at ACT
RIDGEFIELD — What would you do if a need or cause presented itself for you to resolve? If you are the mayor of Los Angeles’ assistant Regina, a dedicated Shaylen Harger, you would paint protest signs, and wage a major battle to save your city’s Sunset Strip and the iconic institutions that make it famous.
Leave your inhibitions, reservations, hearing aids, walkers and canes at the door. Pop a few super vitamins and prepare to be electrified. The rock and roll party is set to explode on the stage of A Contemporary Theatre in Ridgefield until March 19, when “Rock of Ages,” a nonstop party, arrives in colorful splendor.
Don’t for a moment confuse this show with “Rock of Ages,” the popular Christian hymn composed in 1763 by the Rev. Augustus Toplody. The good reverend was inspired to write his song when he was traveling in his native England one day and was caught in a horrendous storm.
Seeking shelter in a gap in a gorge near where he was walking, the first words of the tune came to him: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.”
He is said to have scribbled these words on a playing card, giving thanks for the sheltered protection the rock provided.
This totally different “Rock of Ages” is set in Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip, in 1987, and is called “the best party ever!” Two kids, a guy from South Detroit and one smalltown gal, meet in L.A. and find they share the same dream: to make it big in the world of music and movies.
This is Drew and Sherrie’s story. Think rock concert meets youth gone wild meets bad-boy behavior. No rules apply here. Fun, comedy, ’80s tunes and outrageous pleasures are guaranteed as you don your acidwashed jeans and kneehigh boots and spray your bouffant hair to the last degree of solid steel.
Nominated for five Tony Awards, the show features a rock band that takes part in the company as well as makes music. It pops and bangs out hits from Journey, Styx, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Night Ranger and REO Speedwagon, tunes that will make you levitate from your seat and make you want to party on and on and on.
Get your jazz hands ready for a little friendly head banging.
Classic rock tunes such as “Don’t Stop Believin,’ ” “We Built the City,” “Here I Go Again,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “I Wanna Know What Love Is” will resound to the rafters of ACT.
Dale Obermark will star as Drew and Abigail Sparrow as Sherrie, two newcomers to town who meet and make musical magic. They meet at the Bourbon Club, which Dennis (Justin Michael Duval) owns with his right-hand man Lonny (Liam Fennecken).
A pair of real estate developers from Germany (Kevin Dennis and Sean Widener) want to raze and sanitize the site, removing all traces of the rock and roll royalty that made it famous, such as lead singer Stacee Jaxx (Eric Coles).
Others in this talented,
high-energy cast include Elizabeth Adabale, Jasmine Gobourne, Alexander Hall, Julia Rippon, Aaron Robinson, Emily Ann Stys and Tray Wright.
For tickets ($63 to $152), call ACT of Connecticut, 36 Old Quarry Road, Ridgefield, at 475-215-5497, visit actofct.com or email boxoffice@actofct.com. Performances are Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m,.
The show’s book is by Chris D’Arienzo, it is directed by Igor Goldin with choreography by Sara Brians, and has original musical arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.
Watch for Fairfield County’s Giving Day and an opportunity to donate to ACT.
Show up at this feelgood party ready to rock and roll with your black leather jacket, air guitars and protest signs to journey back to the 1980s for “Fun, Fun, Fun.”