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Katie Tonkinson as Raven and Glenn Adamson as Strat. Pictures: Chris Davis Studio 2 Bat Out Of Hell The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham *** This is music, an album, an era which
oozes nostalgia for me. I bought the album on release and saw Meat loaf
perform the album live on the “Bat” tour Bat Out of Hell was the debut studio album by
American rock singer Meat Loaf and composer Jim Steinman. The album was
developed from the musical Neverland, a futuristic rock version
of Peter Pan which Steinman wrote for a workshop in 1974. It was recorded during 1975–1976 , was produced
by Todd Rundgren, and was released in October 1977 . The album featured
Max Weinberg on drums and Roy Bittan on piano from Bruce Springsteen’s E
street band. These details matter. Springsteen, Rundgren and Steinman used to go
together to see the opera in New York laying influences and foundations
for work from all of them. When Springsteen wrote in Jungleland
“Man, there's an opera out on the Turnpike, there’s a ballet being
fought out in the alley", we are hearing the seed corn for Bat
out of hell. Anyone who saw the last tour, some three years ago is in for a surprise, many of the original cast remain but the production has been significantly revamped. The cast use handheld mics resulting in several “pass the parcel” moments and a hand held cameraman relays pictures on to two overhead screens. The combination of the handheld mics and camera work mean that principals are sometimes performing with their backs to the audience. Musical, concert or arena show? You decide.
Rob Fowler as Falco and Sharon Sexton as Sloane Fortunately, the good cast members from the
previous tour have been retained and the new ones ooze talent all
uniformly giving the show the energy it needs. The story? Boy and girl fall in love, Girl's
father disapproves, love conquers all - but does it? On the album, there
is no linear narrative, so the director, Allison Coyne, can do what she
wants. However onstage the story is disjointed and chaotic. The visuals are an amalgam of Mad Max,
Bowie’s Hunger City and We will rock you. Onstage a dystopian future unfolds together with
an underclass, The Lost, down trodden by the dictator Falco,
who never bursts into, Rock me Amadeus. Katie Tonkinson is lithe and engaging as Falco’s
daughter Raven. Glen Adamson plays an impish rebel leader, Strat,
physically bearing a remarkable resemblance to the late Rockert, Ronnie
James Dio. Adamson’s vocals are superb but he cannot replicate the
physical presence that Meat Loaf had , and is too fit and handsome to be
able to emulate Meat Loaf’s lewdness. A live band playing from an elevated platform
give the music raw power and immediacy particularly the guitar and piano
who deserved back-screen shots which they did not receive. As Ravens’ mother and father in their roles as
Falco and Sloane, Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton excel. Sexton is the star
of the show, sexy in her pencil skirts and waist high side split dress,
her vocals are outstanding, most notably on, What part of my body
hurts the most duetting with Falco, her acting the consistent
highlight of the show. Carla Bertran, as Tink(erbell) is a delight A pretty much full opening house on a bitterly cold and wet February evening were well rewarded for their commitment and gave the company a deserved standing ovation at the end. Those that had come to see Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman’s greatest hits had their fill, and had the eponymous title song twice! Runs until Sat 22nd Feb and continues on nationwide tour. Gary Longden 10-02-25 |
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