This powerful rock musical featuring Jim Steinman and Meatloaf’s greatest hits has a huge play list, an eight piece live band, brilliant multi-level staging and impressive vocals.
Bat out of Hell is set in a dystopian world, featuring ‘The Lost’ – a group of outcasts living in tunnels underneath the city of post-apocalyptic Manhattan – known as Obsidian.
The musical follows a Peter Pan theme, only in this tale, it is Strat who is forever 18 and the leader of The Lost. Strat falls in love with Raven, who is the daughter of the tyrannical ruler of Obsidian – Falco.
Just like in Peter Pan – Tink features in Bat out of Hell and is jealous when Strat falls in love with Raven. Tink makes a deal with Falco and leads him to Strat’s hiding place.
What I hadn’t realised was that Bat out of Hell was always intended to be a musical – and had actually inspired some of the songs on the original 1977 album of the same name.
The first thing that hits you about this musical is the incredible vocals delivered by the whole cast. The excellent playlist is well delivered with each cast member adding their own interpretation.
But it is Strat, played by Glenn Adamson, that truly steals the limelight with his powerful vocals, alongside the original songs from the Bat out of Hell album. Some of my favourites on the night included ‘You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth,’ ‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).
And of course, the titular ‘Bat out of Hell’ sung by Strat, and Raven (played by Sophie-Rose Emery), and the playful ‘Paradise by the Dashboard Light’, by Falco (played last night by Joshua Dever) and Sloane (played by Sharon Sexton).
Another name worthy of a vocal mention in the line-up of excellent singers is Ryan Carter, playing Jagwire, his voice captured my attention in the first half – I was hoping to hear him sing again, and wasn’t disappointed in the second half of the show.
The clever use of the multi-level stage set, and the filming of the characters which was then projected onto screens above, really set the scene, and complimented the storyline. The mix of rock and retro punk style costumes also enhanced the performance. The use of the pyrotechnics and confetti cannons at the end of the first half was really impressive, giving rock concert vibes.
The use of the handheld microphones gave the performance a rock concert feel, however I felt they sometimes hindered the flow and made some scenes look slightly awkward.
It took me all my strength not to sing along on the night, but I’ve made up for it since returning home, and will be playing the soundtrack for many weeks to come no doubt.
★★★★
Bat out of Hell is at Curve until Saturday, June 14
Limited tickets available
