Theatre Review by our Theatre Reviewer Jonah Zalick #OnePlymouth
If you were at Royal Parade this past Tuesday, you’d know Bat Out of Hell was in Plymouth. Bikers roared down on beautiful Harleys, coming to park outside of the theater. It was a wonderful tribute to not only the late, great Meat Loaf, but also amped up the pre-show excitement.
Bat Out of Hell takes Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits and turns them into an exciting musical experience. Bat Out of Hell was always meant to be a musical; composer Steinman had wanted to create a rock ‘n’ roll version of J M Barrie’s Peter Pan. Instead of Wendy, Peter Pan, The Lost Boys and Neverland, Bat Out of Hell tells the love story between Raven and Strat in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic Manhattan (re-named ‘Obsidian’). Strat is the leader of The Lost – a group of rebellious, forever-young 18-year-olds. Raven desperately wants to break free of her oppressive life; her father, Falco, is Obsidian’s tyrannical ruler.
The set design was positively gasp-worthy – Obsidian is brought to life and appears to be the entirely different world it is: grungy, yet mind-blowingly fantastical. Costuming was infused with both the styles of our current day and the past, when the Bat Out of Hell album was originally released. To me, it was a delightful celebration of alternative culture and youth over the ages.
As main character Strat, Glenn Adamson summons a cheekily charming level of boyishness suited for the character inspired by Barrie’s Peter Pan. Yet, he made the role his own, with jaw-dropping vocal strength and fierce soul.
Bat Out of Hell is a must-see – whether you’re a Meat Loaf fan or simply enjoy musicals. You’re transported into another life, infused with Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits as well as an otherworldly set and a cast with electrifying talent. I already want to go again – it’s a unique experience incomparable to anything else I’ve seen.
Theatre Review by our Theatre Reviewer Jonah Zalick #OnePlymouth
