Bat Out of Hell at The Regent – Review
The hit musical Bat Out of Hell is back by popular demand at the Regent Theatre, Hanley. The iconic music of Jim Steinman and Meatloaf once again promises to rock the stage and blow musical theatre and Meatloaf fans away. Review by Mel Osborne
The musical is a post apocalypse rock story set in the dystopian city of Obsidion, once known as Manhattan and is about forbidden love, one that never grows old.
Raven is the rebellious daughter of Falco and Sloane who escapes one night and finds teen rebels ‘The lost’ a group of teens frozen in time. Raven falls for Strat but Falco finds her, and she is banished to her room. Falco plans to transform Obsidion to what it once was but it involves destroying the passages and alleyways that belong to ‘The Lost’.
The plot is a combination of Shakespearean tragedy, entwined with Greek mythology and maybe a smidge of Dirty Dancing with the bad boy meets good girl trope.
(Images supplied by The Regent. Credit: Chris Davis Studio)
By definition this is a jukebox musical which theatre snobs can often look down upon, but this is certainly not a show to be sniffed at as it celebrates the powerful rock operas entwined in a bittersweet comedy of love and loss.
It boasts a live onstage band and the volume is set to high.
The show uses mixed media on stage, and it is hard to know where to look as so much is happening, probably one of the many reasons this show is watched repeatedly by fans.
Two giant screens project live camera shots which give off seventies film vibes and the talented cast switch from on stage bouyance to small screen nuance.
Not an easy skill. Neither must it be easy for the cameraman chasing the actors on stage and getting each movement en point. It’s fascinating to watch. Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton return to the stage as Falco and Sloane – roles they have shaped and perfected with a sparkling on stage dynamic.
Glenn Adamson (centre) as Strat & the cast of Bat Out of Hell. Picture credit Chris Davis Studio.
The ensemble gave powerful performances and all the meatloaf classics are in this including Dead Ringer for Love, Two out of Three ain’t bad and of course the classic – I will do anything for Love.
Notebable performances go to newcomer Kate Tokinson as Raven who opens the show with a powerful monologue and sets the bar for onstage energy.
Glenn Adamson is simply iconic as Strat giving off the bad boy vibes your mother warned you about. His performance of Bat out of Hell at the end of Act 1 was mesmerising.
Bat Out of Hell is an electrifying, explosion of a show which will leave you awe struck for days after. There is no denying the passion and power of the music of Steinman and Meatloaf.
These timeless classics appeal to young and old alike and as ever West End shows are received with love and gratitude in Stoke.
The cast were met with a standing ovation at the end of the show, showing once again the value of touring productions in the UK.
5 Stars
