|
|
Road Reporter
Posts: 1729
   
Location: Baltimore, MD |
Well, my SMF friends, as SMF Cyndi and I lamented over the lack of Twisted Christmas shows this year, I decided it was time for a final roadtrip of 2010, and check out Dee performing in "Rock of Ages" on Broadway.
It was a quick 3-hour bus trip up Interstate 95, Cyndi and I loaded up on coffee and headed over to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in the heart of Broadway and Times Square. While it warmed our hearts to see "Twisted Sister" and "Dee Snider" on the marquis, we couldn't help but feel the bittersweet bite of knowing that just a few short blocks away, what we once knew as the delightful Nokia Theatre (now a very poorly managed "Best Buy Theatre", quel domage!) was not hosting our boys in the black and pink this year. [I do see Gwar is playing after Christmas, but I'm on the fence on that one...can't decide if they are bus-worthy]
We downed two of the largest deli sandwiches imaginable and headed off to The Atkinson. A beautiful, wonderfully restored theatre from the 1920's--one of my favorite eras in American architecture--gilded ceiling, beautiful fixtures, historically accurate--and truly not a bad seat in the house. In Broadway terms, it's an intimate theatre, with a somewhat "low budget" production compared to say.... "Cats"... or "Spiderman".... Okay. So I saw "Cats" I was twelve, okay? I still can't tell the frickin' plot but it ended with a spaceship or something....we were so far back I needed binoculars. Sigh....I digress.
If you've been living under the proverbial rock and don't know, "Rock of Ages" is a musical, featuring broadway-versions of heavy metal tunes of the 80's, and the musical itself is one big parody--a celebration--of some of the ridiculousness of the 80's as well as a showcase of some of the 80's hair rockers and ballads. This show reminded me, in several ways, of the Twisted Christmas concerts in Vegas. There were many folks at those TS who had casino comped tickets, and really had no idea what Twisted Sister or Twisted Christmas was all about. Well, same goes here.
We surveyed the crowd, and there were many folks older than 60.....and younger than 30....who truly had no concept of what 80's heavy metal consisted of. I was surprised just how many of the jokes fell completely flat...we're talking "fart-in-church" flat...and that's a shame, because some of the banter was downright funny, but you had an audience that just plain didn't get it.
The plot was pretty mundane and cliche--small town girl Sherry comes to LA to become an actress, gets offered a job at a Heavy Metal rock club where there's a little romance brewing between her and bar boy Drew, a wannabe rockstar. Then you have the evil German land developer who wants to buy the club and turn it into a strip mall and voila! add some dancing and singing and you have a Broadway musical.
The real reason why we were there, of course, was that our very own Dee Snider, played the role of Dennis, an old school hippie rocker and club owner. Now you KNOW our bias, but you also know that if we thought Dee should stick to rock, I'd give it to you straight. So here it is: Dee was the TRUE star of that show! Because he comes from the Rock theatre and not a Broadway background, Dee's performance had something that a lot of the other actors/actresses lacked: REALNESS. I've worked theatre on a small town scale (both on crew, and as a performer)--you have to be BIG, over the top--exaggerated makeup, gestures, speech--that's to account for being on a stage without the aid of cameras, jumbo tron etc. Dee is used to being the frontman, and his experience really came through. While the others seemed to be caricatures of rockers, Dee was very BELIEVABLE as his character. A true testament to Dee's talent--he has also been versatile through his screenwork, radio and stage--and I truly believe we have, luckily, NOT seen the last of Dee on Broadway.
You got the impression that he was sort of a rock dinosaur amongst the little fledglings... when they sang, everyone else in the cast sang like Broadway musicians--we used to call it "belly voice"--you sing from your gut, and use your stomach to project your voice to the back seat of the theatre. Rock, on the other hand, is all "throat singing". Dee has the perfect combination of both, and when he belted it out, you could really tell that THIS guy was a true rocker acting on Broadway, not a Broadway actor playing the role of a rocker. His voice just blew everyone else away, and his ACTING was the special surprise for me.
It again, came off as very realistic. I felt his character. I believed his character. It was hard at first to see Dee on stage drinking and smoking (it's ACTING, people!) and to see him in bell bottoms again, well, Cyndi and I couldn't stop giggling. His character delivery was flawless and incredibly funny, and every time Dee was onstage, we had some serious laughs.
SPOILER ALERT! If you plan to see the musical, stop reading now coz I'm gonna spoil the ending....
ready?
Dee's character Dennis has a HILARIOUS sequence with Lonny, the narrator and bar employee...and we were treated to a brilliantly delivered sequence (with projected photos on the backdrop behind them) in which we learn of the homoerotic relationship between the two, complete with Dennis and Lonny going to the Eiffel Tower together....to the pyramids of Egypt together (with both wearing king Tut headdresses).....and yes...the ultimate blackmail photo...Dee wearing Mickey Mouse ears! So his pronounced hatred of Disney, we can keep that photo for good measure.
And in the end, as we learn the fate of all of our characters, Dennis' stoner ways got the best of him...and we saw Dee (Dennis) "go to the light"...and return hurling glitter at the audience, as he donned a white sequinned outfit and...... huge white feathered wings! One of the mysteries solved--we now know Victoria's secret after all!
Cyndi and I were laughing so hard we were literally crying. Dee was just plain brilliant. Well done!
Musically....well...go for the fun of it. They sang two Twisted Sister songs, both horribly massacred. The afternoon's music consisted of Whitesnake, Pat Benatar, Styx, Journey, Poison, Quiet Riot and a bunch more--lots of fun reminiscing. Musically though, Journey's music translated well to Broadway, as did Mr.Big's and Damn Yankees. Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister? Ummmm, not so. If I had my Christmas wish, I would have rather seen Joan Jett, Jon Bon Jovi, Dee and other rock stars who have crossed over into acting to perform the music with Broadway stars as backup vocals. The actresses squeaking out "We're Not Gonna Take It" made me feel a little bit queasy.
We swung around to the Stage Door after the show....and inconspicuous door labeled "STAGE DOOR" and a shout out, we met Johnny, a Twisted Sister roadie from the days of L'Amours in Brooklyn, NY! Then within minutes, out emerges Dee! Cyndi and I chatted with him for a few minutes, snapped a quick photo, and enjoyed overhearing an excited fan tell him the story of how her parents MET at a Twisted Sister show back in the club days. Her dad, in an effort to appear cool in front of the woman who would later become his wife, apparently catcalled and taunted Dee at the show for wearing women's dresses. Then next night they returned to the club, and Dee called the guy out, from the stage, calling him "the little shit who harassed him the night before." He never forgot it--and the couple did marry (in spite of the guy acting like a douche bag) and they are still married, some 30plus years later. Their daughter is a Twisted Sister fan, and she was ecstatic to be able to tell Dee that her parents met because of him and Twisted Sister!
I thanked Dee for the wonderful shows in South America--and although I'm sure he didn't want to be apart from his family on the holidays, he and Twisted Sister gave me the best Thanksgiving ever.
And with that, my babies, I would like to wish all of you--my SMF brothers and sisters all over the world, a healthy, happy holiday season. May 2011 bring us all prosperity, good health, happiness, peace.....and MOST of all.....more Twisted Sister concert dates!
Trotting off to bake some Twisted holiday cookies...
Terry, a.k.a. The Armadillo |
|
| |
|
Road Reporter
Posts: 1729
Location: Baltimore, MD | And P.S. there was also a special "guest" appearance onstage of a Jay Jay French special edition Les Paul Pinkburst....
[don't forget to set your winter alarm clocks for April 22-24th! Pinkburst Project is coming....] |
|
| |
|
Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 2072
 
| Terry
Another great report. Glad you and Cindy had a good time.
Happy Holidays
G |
|
| |
|
Extreme SMF
Posts: 158
| Terry
Again....brilliant. You put me in "the seat" again.
Just wish I coulda seen the MM ears!!! Classic!!
Evel Phx Az |
|
| |
|
Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 1321
Location: on a Twisted planet | AWESOME !!! tERRY YOU REALLY BRING US THE FEEL OF THE SHOW, always !!!
also.... Dee had a great idea on Jimmy Fallon show, that Gathedral guitar, Dimebag style, was great for rock of ages  Pinkburst Jay Jay French, CLASSIC, LOVE IT |
|
| |
|
Road Reporter
Posts: 1729
Location: Baltimore, MD | Rock of Ages really is a lot of fun. There were a lot of things they incorporated that we appreciated---the Dokken backpatch on the lead character.... the wine coolers on the first date....the hilarious parody of a very David-Lee-Roth-esque character.... and I forgot to mention, they DID have a live band onstage, and they were excellent! Seriously, when you can play REO Speedwagon one minute, Twisted Sister the next, and then Quarterflash....and they all sounded great.
Here's the setlist--not in the order they were played--
1. Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But A Good Time
2. Sister Christian
3. We Built This City/Too Much Time On My Hands
4. I Wanna Rock
5. We're Not Gonna Take It
6. Heaven/More Than Words /To Be With You
7. Waiting For A Girl Like You
8. Wanted Dead Or Alive
9. I Want To Know What Love Is
10. Cum On Feel The Noize/We're Not Gonna Take It (Reprise)
11. Harden My Heart/Shadows Of The Night
12. Here I Go Again
13. The Final Countdown
14. Any Way You Want It/I Wanna Rock (Reprise)
15. High Enough
16. I Hate Myself For Loving You/Heat Of The Moment
17. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
18. Can't Fight This Feeling
19. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
20. Oh Sherrie
21. The Search Is Over
22. Don't Stop Believin'
Just silly fun. |
|
| |
|
Location: Graveyard BLVD. | OH man Terry, a gift you have my dear! Details...details...details....you have them all!!!!!!!!!!!! This was fun to read thinking to myself..."was I really there?" hehe.....
Nothing left to add is there? Oh wait..YES there is...LOL...
Her name was "REGINA" pronounced "RA-G{eye}-iiiiiiii-NA" as in Vagina....LMAO...that was too funny! Her voice was like a screech/memorex moment crucifying all the TS songs. haha...I loved her! Thank you so much for this special day, it really uplifted my holiday spirit. I love ya T my SMF friend!!
Is Santa AND Spongebob really metal????????? I suppose they have to be if Armadillo is in the shot! HAHA...for your enjoyment...
Edited by SMF Cyndi 2010-12-21 2:31 PM
|
|
| |
|
Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 2072
| Cyndi
You are THE BEST.....Great pics....
Thank you |
|
| |
|
Location: Graveyard BLVD. | Thanks a lot "G"...BUT NO! YOU AND ALL THE SMF'S ARE THE BEST! Fact! I just love you all! I swear, Terry and I were talking about this all day. We truly don't know what WE would have done if we didn't have TS and our SMF friends all these years! Life, would there have been one? Or survival? I doubt it very much...
George - 2010-12-21 9:24 AM
Cyndi
You are THE BEST.....Great pics....
Thank you
Edited by SMF Cyndi 2010-12-21 2:37 PM
|
|
| |
|
Road Reporter
Posts: 1729
Location: Baltimore, MD | Can you tell we had a blast?
Seriously, George--Twisted Sister has not only given me pure entertainment, self-confidence, unadulterated joy and a second adolescence... through the brotherhood and sisterhood of the Slamboard, and fellowship of SMFs everywhere, I have a wonderful network of friends and now a new family of friends in South America. Cyndi and I talked about how we were going to cope--what we will do when the Reunion Tour finally ends-- the tour will end at some point, but these friendships will endure. Twisted Sister has given me a family.
My birthday this year was a "big one"....it went unnoticed at work. unmentioned at the fire station. Other than my mother, not a word from the rest of my family. who remembered? SMFs. I got calls...texts...emails...cards....all from my Twisted family.
I mean it when I say that I love the members of the band, the crew, Danny and SMFs all over the world--I truly do. You are my family. |
|
| |
|
Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 2072
| Terry, Cyndi
You both deserve lots of joy and happiness in your lives, because you certainly give us joy and happiness.
G |
|
| |
|
Road Reporter
Posts: 1729
Location: Baltimore, MD | George - 2010-12-21 8:49 PM
Terry, Cyndi
You both deserve lots of joy and happiness in your lives, because you certainly give us joy and happiness.
G
Right back at ya, G!
Best band in the world. Best fans in the world. |
|
| |
|
Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 1321
Location: on a Twisted planet | Hey, it's morning here, 8:30 AM, i just walked in my work office, and i'm not ready for all this Emotions :D heheheh
You ARE THE BEST, TERRY, CYN....... ALL OF THE PEOPLE ON THE SLAMBOARD AND THE CREW AND TS, EVERYONE........
You're with me, you understand me....... i have friends on the other side of the planet and i'm thankful for that !!!
You Guys Rock, FOREVER |
|
| |
UN-Official Armadillo Road Report:: Rock of Ages on Broadway
Slamboard Home-> SMF Slamboard
