Rock of Ages/Broadway In Chicago
The big hair. The tacky clothes. The exceedingly-cheesy-but-oh-so-great power ballads. What’s not to love about the eighties? As fans of a simpler time of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, we couldn’t have been more thrilled with the short but sweet, sweet return of the Broadway musical “Rock of Ages.” Expectations were high, but the show and the performers didn’t fail to deliver, belting out all the favorites. “To Be With You” by Mr. Big? Check. “High Enough” from Ted Nugent and the rest of the Damn Yankees? Check. “Heaven” as originally performed by the late Jani Lane? Check. If the music alone wasn’t incentive enough to draw you in (psh), the storyline doesn’t totally suck, either: There’s enough corny but still entirely hysterical and lewd jokes throughout to take you right back to the heart of a greater era. Especially riveting was the über-cool yet understated Maddox, who has performed with Chicago’s own punk-rock heroes themselves, Kill Hannah. If we’re lucky, Tom Cruise, Russell Brand and Julianne Hough, starring in the upcoming film version (June 2012), will rock half as hard as the cast of the theatrical production.
Best of Chicago 2011
