A MEAT LOAT musical was always going to be an assault on the senses.
Bat Out Of Hell is loud, brash and aggressive in the extreme.
Rocky Horror meets We Will Rock You meets The Last Train, a late 90s TV drama in which survivors walk around dazed, struggling in the aftermath of a meteorite colliding with the earth.
READ MORE: Theatre review - Singin' in the Rain, Mayflower Theatre
There are definite shades of Peter Pan, even Lord of the Flies, with two Romeo and Juliet-style characters as the central figures.
We join Strat, the forever young leader of rebellious gang ‘The Lost’ as he falls in love with Raven, the daughter of the tyrannical ruler of post-apocalyptic Obsidian. The battles that ensue get pretty violent to say the least.
And the little dialogue this jukebox musical contains to link the disparate numbers together feels as hammed up as an 80s horror movie.
In my mind, Bat Out Of Hell struggles to find its own identity, attempting to be something to everyone.
It wasn't for me, but I was obviously in the minority as the finale was met with a rapturous reception by the Mayflower crowd who were on their feet and dancing along the second they sniffed the opportunity.
There was still much to admire here. The show relies heavily on its cast’s powerhouse vocals and strong stage presence, most notably the truly talented Joelle Moses, who plays Zahara.
The staging is superbly excessive. Think exploding confetti cannons, smoke, fire and strobe lighting. The use of video projections is brilliant and of course you get to enjoy great performances of smash hits like I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, Dead Ringer For Love and Bat Out Of Hell,
The energy is high and the audience loved the show, written by Jim Steinman and based on the Bat Out Of Hell album trilogy by Meat Loaf and paying tribute to two talented musicians who both passed away recently.
Bat Out Of Hell runs until Saturday.
Tickets from mayflower.org.uk or 023 8071 1811.
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