Rock Of Ages The Musical

Rock of Ages is a big, bold, tongue-in-cheek celebration of 1980s rock music, and Downfield Musical Society clearly threw themselves into the fun of it all. From the moment the curtain went up, the cast looked like they were enjoying themselves and that energy transferred well to the audience.

At the centre of the story, Lorcan Dyer as Drew and Daisy Johnson as Sherrie both delivered likeable performances, their story arc told amidst the otherwise larger-than-life comedy of the supporting characters.

Ross Lesslie, as Lonny, tackled what is arguably one of the hardest roles in the show with confidence and humour, guiding the audience through the madness with great energy. Gavin White gave a steady and solid performance as Dennis, together they proved a strong casting. The pairing of Drew Knox (Hertz) and Nathan Forsyth (Franz) brought light-hearted comedy delivered with great timing and just the right amount of character; Nathans ‘Hit me you’re your best shot’ being a particular highlight. Nicole Lawson was excellent as Regina, bringing vocal strength, conviction and plenty of energy to her role, while Jem Clark gave a strong commanding performance as Justice, combining sass, warmth, and strength in character and the right sort of vocal tone. Mike Mercer had plenty of fun with the eccentric Stacee Jaxx, delighting the audience with his larger-than-life antics.

The production did not shy away from the raunchiness of the script, and the costuming was certainly bold, leaving little to the imagination.

While the subtlety of the story was occasionally lost amongst the spectacle, the company’s commitment and enjoyment on stage ensured the audience had plenty to watch.

Under the Direction of Rebecca Waghorn and Ian Strachan the show kept moving and delivering the big 80s rock numbers that the audience came for.

An ambitious and lively production with a well utilised, lit and structured set; the whole staging certainly took us back to the 80’s Rock Scene.

This Show was full of fun and enjoyment. The commitment and enthusiasm of the cast was clear throughout, and there were plenty of moments to celebrate.

Thank You for the Invite and well done to all involved.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.