Let’s get one thing out of the way. If you’re looking for highbrow theatre, Shakespearean nuance or even a plot that makes sense, Bat Out of Hell is probably not for you. However, if you want to be swept up in a gloriously over-the-top, high-camp explosion of rock, then buckle up – this is one wild ride.
Written by Jim Steinman, the show throws logic and subtlety out of the window in favour of epic anthems, roaring motorbikes and melodramatic performances. The plot is entirely ridiculous and never fully explained; still, for the sake of context, here’s the gist. Set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic Manhattan – now known as Obsidian – it follows the love affair between Strat, the eternally youthful leader of The Lost, and Raven, the daughter of tyrannical ruler Falco. Think Peter Pan/Romeo & Juliet mash-up with leather trousers, loud guitars and fireballs. It’s sexy, silly and completely overblown, and that’s what makes it so much fun.
Glen Adamson’s Strat broods and wails his way through the show like a glam rock god in a gothic fever dream. Raven, played by Katie Tonkinson, is the rebellious daughter, who swoons and pouts with dramatic flair. Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton, reprising their roles as Falco and his wife Sloane, steal scenes with their dysfunctional but oddly endearing relationship.
Of course, the real star of the show is the music, performed by an eight-piece live band. Steinman’s songs, made famous by Meat Loaf, are the heart and soul of this production, and sound seat-shakingly bombastic and electrifying. The whole cast delivers powerhouse performances, from the eponymous title track to the anthemic You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth and I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).
As a life-long fan who grew up belting out karaoke versions of Paradise by the Dashboard Light, it’s filled to the brim with pure nostalgia-fuelled joy. Yet while it thrives on its high-octane numbers it knows when to slow things down, allowing the audience time to catch their breath. Amid the fire and fury, Steinman’s beautifully tender ballads provide moments of real emotional weight. Heaven Can Wait and For Crying Out Loud strip away the chaos; these quieter moments remind us that beneath all the pyrotechnics, Steinman’s powerful song writing tells stories of longing, passion and heartbreak.
Bat Out Of Hell knows exactly what it is. Rather than shying away from its excess, it leans in – hard. The result? A hugely enjoyable spectacle, dripping in melodrama and packed with larger-than-life performances. It’s a full-throttle assault on the senses, from the cranked-up stadium rock to video screens streaming live footage filmed by a roving cameraman. For the sheer excess, it’s exhilarating – the choreography is high-energy and packed with attitude, and everyone on stage gives everything they’ve got to every moment. Without question, it’s a wildly entertaining, unapologetic extravaganza – it’s big, it’s loud and, for me, it was impossible to resist. If you looking for an evening when you’re totally immersed in some of the most iconic rock songs of all time, it delivers in spades.
Bat Out Of Hell runs at The Alexandra Theatre Birmingham until Saturday February 22. Tickets are available here.
