By Lisa Panzer
Director Anthony SanFilippo has assembled a stellar cast whose energy, moves and charisma absolutely ROCK the house! An amazing band (Rodney Atienza, Pete Bretz, Jon Cooper, Ahmet Erispaha, Dylan Harrington, George Livanos, Anthony Reuter, Gene Whitaker), pumps up the atmosphere playing live 1980’s era metal rock, welcoming all to the ‘Bourbon Room’, shortly followed by a legendary music celebrity video visit. The excitement careens on through the opening number “Cum On Feel the Noize/Just Like Paradise/Nothin’ But a Good Time” (Lonny/Gavin Wycuff on 4/11, Drew/Charles Harrison, Dennis/Mark Thompson, Justice/ Deirdre McGettigan Henry, Ensemble) and continues acceleration throughout the entire production. Audience members are part of the crazy ‘80s party vibe as the overall feeling of the glitzy LA Sunset Blvd. music culture, where dreams can fester or fly, totally pervades.
Charles Harrison in “Rock of Ages” at PCS. Photo by Carmen Rossi.j
In ‘Rock of Ages’ Drew (Charles Harrison), a young man from South Detroit meets Sherrie (Catherine Callahan) a small-town girl from Paona, Kansas first meet at the rockin’ Bourbon Room on Sunset Strip and start to fall in love. Both are dashing towards their dreams of stardom, but a series of mixed messages, faux pas and terrible timing, signals falter and they find themselves in an altered state of affairs (“I Wanna Know What Love Is” – Stacee/Andrew Staub, Sherrie/Catherine Callahan & Ensemble and “Oh Sherrie” – Drew/Charles Harrison & Ensemble). Meanwhile, their beloved rock bar is about to be demolished by greedy developers who’ve bribed the Mayor (Shawn Weaver), and may only be saved by the efforts of friends and fellow protesters (“We’re Not Gonna Take It” – Regina/Meg Cranney, Protestors/Ensemble and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” – Franz/Nicholas Sewcheck, Regina/Meg Cranney, Protestors/Ensemble). Bourbon Room owners Lonny (Gavin Wycuff) and Dennis (Mark Thompson) also bask in their own gloriously staged scene on Sunset Blvd. (“I Can’t Fight This Feeling” – Lonny/Gavin Wycuff, Dennis/Mark Thompson & Ensemble), accompanied by loud cheers from the audience. Other relationship types are touched upon including father and son (“Keep on Lovin’ You – Hertz/Ken Locicero).
There is a lot happening on stage at any moment, and never a dull one! Gavin Wycuff is wonderfully smart and hyper kinetic as Lonny/Narrator occasionally breaking the fourth wall addressing and interacting with the house directly, and later telling Drew, played with plenty of vitality by Harrison, to break away from the script and do his own thing. Catherine Callahan’s Sherrie is stunningly rendered, her voice reverberating especially during the number “Harden My Heart/Shadows of the Night” among others. Stacee, portrayed with pomp by Andrew Staub wears his bodaciousness well, and Shawn Weaver’s phenomenal physicality and vocals give lift to his characters as well as the ensemble. Franz Klinemann is delightfully done by Nicholas Sewcheck, pairing nicely with Meg Cranney’s cute but canny Regina, and Deirdre McGettigan Henry gives a lovely voice and intimacy to Justice. This finely tuned ensemble consists of so many talented performers who amp up every scene to the fullest.
Detail, nuance and verve in the action and technical aspects of the production – jubilant lighting by Jack Janovsky, Colin Malee’s scenic design, Kaity Levesque’s kickass choreography, awesome assortment of costumes by Claire Ennis and Lucy Moth, along with clever juxtapositioning of certain scenes and use of multi-media maintain the overall effect of being at one heck of a ‘rad’ Rock event where the music takes you ever higher.
Following the fantastic finale “Don’t Stop Believin” the opening night audience rose from their seats to give a cheering standing ovation and were in turn rewarded with a shower of colorful confetti from above.
‘Rock of Ages’ is deftly directed by Anthony SanFilippo. Go to the show and “Feel the Love”…
If You Go
ROCK OF AGES*
Book by Chris D’Arienzo; Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp
Directed by Anthony SanFilippo
Remaining Performances April 18, 7:30 PM, April 19, 2 PM &
7:30 PM, April 24, 7:30 PM, April 25, 7:30 PM and April 26, 2 PM &
7:30 PM
Tickets can be purchased by visiting the box office, by calling 610-328-4271 or online at https://ci.green.prod.ovationtix.com/117/production/1199465
Run Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission
PCS Theater is at 614 Fairview Rd. , Swarthmore, PA 190181
*Mature themes including strong language, sexual innuendo, drugs, alcohol, and mild violence