- Bat Out of Hell: The Musical
- Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
- Kansas City, Missouri
Score 3.5 out of 5 stars
I’ve always been a fan of the collaboration between Meat Loaf and composer / lyricist Jim Steinman and the “opera rock” style of presentation made so famous with the album Bat Out of Hell in 1977. I confess I had no idea of how far back the creative parts and pieces that were to become the record setting 40 million plus copies sold. Also, Jim Steinman was prolific with his writing and music for other artists, probably the most success with Bonnie Tyler, think Total Eclipse of the Heart, or Air Supply with Making Love Out of Nothing At All. He even had some radio success in the early 80’s recording his own composition “Rock and Roll Dreams come Through”. There are many, many other examples of his vast career, and if I have a personal favorite, it would be “Nowhere Fast” from the “Streets of Fire” soundtrack.
Pulling heavily from Bat Out of Hell, with several others as previously mentioned, the musical tells a story of young love…. Ala Romeo & Juliet with nods to a Peter Pan influence. There is a group of underground – literally – kids (The Lost) who are forever 18 yrs old. Except for “Tink” who is stuck being a younger age (and resents that) led by Strat. The girl, Raven and her domineering parents, Falco and Sloane live in a tower above the war ravaged and earthquake damaged city.
Sloane meets Strat, is immediately stricken with desire but plays hard to get….at her 18th Birthday party, Raven attempts to run away with him, has second thoughts and abandons him. Strat is involved in a motorcycle wreak and seems to be killed. The performance moves through scenes where the lovers are reunited, the parents break up, Tink is killed, Raven is rejected by Strat, and then after many months apart, they are reunited with Strat pledging his forever love, no matter what age they are.
I found the music performance to be crisp and on point…. the touring band should be commended!
I thought the acting was “pushed” a bit too much at times, but there were very good moments by many of the cast.
On a scale of zero to five, “Bat Out of Hell: The Musical” receives ★★★ ½
Musical Highlights:
Two out of Three Ain’t Bad
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Making Love Out of Nothing at All
You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth
Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)