More Hair spray Than Hairspray

OK, so this summer’s film version of Rock of Ages was pretty much a bomb — a star-studded, $75-million quagmire that, if it’s lucky, might receive a consolation-prize Oscar nomination for costumes or sound mixing. It’s unfortunate that this messy adaptation was most audience members’ introduction to the otherwise winning...

By John Thomason

October 4, 2012

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OK, so this summer’s film version of Rock of Ages was pretty much a bomb — a star-studded, $75-million quagmire that, if it’s lucky, might receive a consolation-prize Oscar nomination for costumes or sound mixing. It’s unfortunate that this messy adaptation was most audience members’ introduction to the otherwise winning material: a jukebox musical of arena-rock party songs that scored five Tony nominations on Broadway and makes its second South Florida tour appearance this Tuesday through October 14 at the Adrienne Arsht Center (1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). The inspirational story follows an aspiring rocker who meets an aspiring actress in ’80s Los Angeles, and they do a lot of aspiring together. The narrative has the depth of a Step Up movie, but watching Rock of Ages for the story is like reading Playboy for the articles — it’s much easier to get distracted by the airbrush and Latex. The performers playfully break the fourth wall; the live band performs onstage in metalhead garb; the cast belts out exuberant songs such as “We Built This City,” “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’ ”; and a generally good time is had by all.
Oct. 9-14, 8 p.m., 2012

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