"Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell - The Musical", Dominion Theatre, 30/5/16

Bat Out Of Hell is resurrected at London's Dominion Theatre and rocks bigger than before! A futuristic, rock retelling of the Peter Pan fable, we enter the world of "Obsidian", an island city separated from the mainland following chemical wars, whose inhabitants form two factions - dictator Falco, his family and followers/employees and The Lost, a group of perpetual 18 year-olds - victims of the chemical warfare - led by Strat, who rebel against Falco's real estate ambitions. As Falco's daughter, Raven, turns 18 she encounters Strat and the two fall in love. Confrontations ensue as various members of the factions struggle to live and love dealing with issues of love, loss and revenge along the way.

The production is leaner than ever, although "It Just Won't Quit" is still missed and some of the edits are unnecessary - particularly Zahara's prompting Strat to return to Raven - and ideally should be reinstated. The new elements, however, only enhance the production and clarify plot elements further filling the stage with a mass of exciting details to observe: Director Jay Scheib has added many little details of business that create even more depth to the staging and supplement the characters and their development within Jim Steinman's story; the distillation of his ethos, more commercially viable than the previous versions (Neverland, The Dream Engine), retaining the elements that excite him.

Scheib continues to sculpt a mesmerising physical production that is part musical, part rock concert, part opera and it's perhaps the latter form that best describes Jim Steinman's opus. Steinman and Scheib have grafted the larger than life elements of high-brow art onto the rock concert form and melded it with the mega-musical and they have continued to hone the staging to further the story and Scheib's direction is perfectly attuned to making the best of it. Emma Portner's choreography has also been tweaked and remains an enjoyable element as part of the whole.

On a side note, the newspapers that have been part of this show since the Coliseum last year were not in evidence at this particular performance. They were created to provide the audience with a little exposition and insight into the environment before the show starts and have had several revisions since their first appearance. Frankly, as nice as they are to have as a memento they really aren't required as the exposition is treated well throughout the first act for an audience to gauge what's what.

Alternate Jordan Luke Gage brings an ethereal quality to the role of Strat, looking and acting less mature (appropriately) than Andrew Polec, and his vocals also bring a new aspect to the part. Gage's youthful appearance also adds credence to his portrayal and his confidence in the part grew exponentially as the show progressed. Gage need only work on the irreverent physical abandon that erupts from Strat at particular moments but this will come with more experience in the role.
Christina Bennington surpasses herself as Raven digging deeper into the role whilst retaining the essential elements of the part and continuing to provide a voice of diverse features.
Danielle Steers continues to arrest the viewer as Zahara and steals scenes easily with the slightest of efforts benefiting greatly from the retooled direction with her various facial asides worth the ticket price alone, never mind her million dollar voice.
Understudy Christopher Cameron as Jagwire brought a gritty, raw vocal and an earthy honesty to the role he was playing for the first time ever, having been a last-minute installation following regular actor Wayne Robinson's indisposition. A remarkable performance that grew before our eyes and I have no doubt he'll exceed himself again and again the more he undertakes the role.
Alex Thomas-Smith is visually more believable than his predecessor as the pre-pubescent Tink (thanks, in part, to a redesigned costume) but, like the other new actors, he brings a different quality and sweeter voice to the part. This new Tink, aided by subtle changes in direction, is at once more fragile and more dangerous than before though, for some reason, there is an unfortunate sense that the role has been reduced, which is untrue, but this must certainly be due to cutting "It Just Won't Quit" and the graveyard scene which aided keeping his spirit within the show.
The veteran company members continue to find new depths in the lines and lyrics they voice and their acting through song is superior and Sharon Sexton and Rob Fowler as Sloane and Falco lead the pack, continuing to excel as the mature couple searching for what they've lost. The new ensemble members have integrated seamlessly and blend well as members of The Lost.
The production's superb casting enables each performer to be unique and there are no mere look/act/soundalikes here; even the understudies and alternates bring individual takes to the lead roles which further the variations on offer to the audience - so much so that many fans 'collect' performers and try to see as many different actors in a role as possible. The divine cast are surely one of the many strengths in this immense production.

Jon Bausor's design has also undergone some minor tweaks and it continues to impress as one of the boldest, metamorphic sets to ever grace a stage. That it was overlooked for an Olivier Award (in fact the show only received one nomination for Sound) is, frankly, mind-boggling. The costumes have been further refined and the video and lighting designs are still perfect for the production. Likewise the orchestra - or, perhaps, band is more appropriate for such a rock opera - persist in their brilliant execution of Steinman's monumental rock score and kudos must be heaped upon musical director Rob Emery and the orchestrators and arrangers Steve Sidwell and Michael Reed.

Whilst Bat Out Of Hell is, in many ways, the same show as that which occupied the Coliseum, it is also something else entirely, with an added dimension and depth brought about by a superlative cast and creative team.

An epic, ethereal, surreal, comic-book rock and roll fantasy faerie-tale, "Bat Out Of Hell" is every bit of wonderful. Rock and roll dreams really do come through ...

"Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell The Musical", London Coliseum, 22/8/17 (Closing Night)

A monumental, dominating, exuberant production, Jim Steinman's life work realises the promise within his rock and roll fantasies in the temple of imagination that is the theatrical stage and now the end has come and Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell The Musical (to give it its full title) has played its final performance at the London Coliseum. The fact the pre-show sequence was greeted with a standing ovation speaks volumes about how much this production has come to mean to so many different people; Bat Out Of Hell has become more than a musical, more than an experience - for some, it is a way of life.

Jim Steinman has apparently always had a fascination with Peter Pan - something I can relate to - believing it to be naturally equatable with rock music and its ethos. This, tied with his love of grand opera, gave birth to his early attempts to create a musical based on J. M. Barrie's fairy-tale and nearly half a century later these principles still form the fulcrum of Steinman's megalithic musical, the ultimate realisation of all his previous efforts.
Sometime in the future a cataclysmic event has separated the island of Manhattan from the mainland of America, isolating its inhabitants. In the same event a group of teenagers are mysteriously genetically frozen so that they never age a day again. This group form The Lost who are led by eternal rebel Strat, whilst the remaining inhabitants eventually come under the rule of Falco who, in the year 2100, is busy redeveloping the island which has come to be known as Obsidian. The Lost are opposed to much of his plans and the two opposing sides frequently clash.
Each side has their own issues with Falco having to deal with his unhappy, alcohol fueled wife, Sloane, who aches for the passion and freedom of her youth (something Falco also envies of The Lost) and the impending 18th birthday of his rebellious daughter, Raven, who is enamoured with The Lost and their secret lives.
The Lost battle to retain their way of life whilst attempting to deal with their internal relationships; tribe members partner up with each other, some evidently moving from one to the other, whilst adult emotions attempt to make their mark with Jagwire persistently pursuing the exotic Zahara despite her protestations of un-interest in a serious relationship with him.
Strat's best friend, Tink, suffers constant emotional turmoil given the fact he was 'frozen' on the brink of pubescent maturity and he harbours a secret love for his hero and leader which soon turns to jealousy when Strat falls in love with Raven, prompting severe reactions from her father and, sadly, from Tink. It is Strat and Raven's relationship that forms the core of the musical, whilst the other relationships also have to be dealt with.

In presenting three variations of a love story, Steinman enriches his plot and forms a unique triumvirate which can be seen as different facets of love at different stages of life. We also see an outside force acting upon this triumvirate in the form of Tink, who epitomises the darker aspects of unfulfilled love; love gone bad, as it were.
Through all the action and emotional eddies that occur, ultimately it is the rock and roll sensibilities, based on primary emotions, that must win out and, naturally, love and hope are the strongest of these.

Jim Steinman's book is relatively simple and frequently punctuated with his famed word-play and abstract speeches and it is quite a change from the earlier incarnations of Neverland and The Dream Engine in being far more accessible for an audience than the earlier versions of the musical. His retelling of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan is infused with his sexual and rebellious rock and roll sensibility whilst the integration of Steinman's songs are completely organic, generally serving to promote the plot and/or reflect internal feelings whilst often exploding externally.
It is, perhaps, rather misleading to call Bat Out Of Hell a "jukebox" musical - as some have done - since the majority of songs have been created from some incarnation or another of Steinman's Neverland project and therefore suitably reflect the appropriate requirements of a particular scene or moment. Even the 'flashback' scene works utterly in harmony with the nature of the piece. Rather, Bat Out Of Hell is the ultimate development of a musical that has had a number of permutations over the decades. As the saying goes, musicals aren't written - they are rewritten.

Steinman has never thought small and the creative team assembled rise to meet his OTT standards to create a theatrical language and environment that suitably match his otherworldly vision, from the monolithic set which encapsulates the environments of the island city of Obsidian, further enhanced with video projection and some incredibly dynamic lighting that fuses the best elements used in theatre and stadium shows through to the energised and spirited unconventional choreography (which often tells its own story) and the fluid, sometimes abstract, direction which is perfectly paced whilst eloquently presenting the relevant information. The costumes, redesigned following the Manchester run, are also integral to the world and now create a unified vision whereas, in Manchester, a number of pieces stood out glaringly - and not always for the right reason. Altogether a unified visual ideal is promoted that is succinctly attuned to Steinman's material.
The orchestra (or band) are also quite exceptional, breathing new life into Steinman's songs with their dynamic playing of the incredible arrangements and orchestrations that pay homage to the original recordings whilst also serving as fresh, theatrical interpretations. Led by the more than capable Robert Emery they are an equal part in the success of the production and the little nod to the orchestra's presence in the first act is quite brilliant.

The production has undergone some further changes just before closing; changes in dialogue, dialogue cuts and a line or two moved streamline the musical further without damaging the plot at all, though the "mirror" speech omission - cut down a while back - still makes the sole remaining line rather awkward, coming out of nowhere as it does and without any context. Reinstating the speech, or some version of it, would only benefit the scene.
The biggest change is the cutting of the gorgeous "It Just Won't Quit", one of the more mellow songs that added an emotional resonance to proceedings as they stood. Whilst the reworked scene works just as well, and the emotional connection between Strat and Raven easily reaffirmed elsewhere, the song is missed as a gentler number amidst the more frantic ones that dominate the musical score and also as an opportunity to give Raven more musical material. Missed most is the brief moment of Tink singing the final line of the song which further suggested Tink's inner turmoil which ultimately leads to his final choices.

The magnificent cast excelled themselves even further than previously and it's clear that the closing night was an emotional one for all and the company evidently made the most of their final performance with sheer joy on some faces and tears in their eyes as and when appropriate. Danielle Steers' and Dom Hartley-Harris' relationship as Zahara and Jagwire has never been stronger and their connection has never been so heart-warming, no doubt reflecting the fact that Dom is not travelling on to Toronto with the company. Steer's face said it all during their moments together, especially during "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" where it was a case of smiling through the tears. Steers really is something else and is an especially unique find amongst the gifted cast. The emotional and vocal powerhouses extend throughout the company with Rob Fowler's Falco and Sharon Sexton's Sloane continuing to be a dynamic duo whose bitterness and despair spills across the stage as they journey through the disappointments of growing up. Something that Aran MacRae's Tink laments being unable to do. MacRae is the catalyst for several plot points and his is a precisely attuned performance and it's a shame there is not more made out of the character. Christina Bennington surpassed herself as Raven, aching to be free and revelling when the  opportunity arises, while Andrew Polec's dynamo performance as Strat reached new heights, as did his vocal prowess which has never been more assured. His embodiment of Steinman's rock-n-roll ethos is sublime perfection.
Steinman and his creative team could not have wished for a more perfect ensemble and it is one of the greater joys of this production to see a youthful company make fresh claims on Steinman's epic songs and interpret them with new eyes and voices; voices that, unlike many current musicals, are all distinct and unique yet, when blended together, beautifully harmonious.

Looks like The Lost have indeed been found ...

I have, of course, previously written about Bat Out Of Hell and those writings can be found here, here and here.

Finally; it is a shame that, presumably for health-reasons, Jim Steinman could not witness his creation in the flesh and bask in the triumph so deserved. I hope he gets the chance to attend the Toronto production but I, selfishly, am overjoyed to know that the production will be returning to London in 2018 and urge all to buy a ticket when it does!

"Bat Out Of Hell", London Coliseum, 18/7/17

After a successful run of 'previews' in Manchester (reviewed here and here), Bat Out Of Hell has hit London's West End for a limited run at the home of the English National Opera, the London Coliseum. Somewhat appropriate given the monumental nature of Jim Steinman's epic masterwork.

Developed over several decades by Steinman from his musical The Dream Engine through the musical Neverland and beyond, the plot is essentially a rock and roll reworking of the Peter Pan story utilising many of Steinman's songs many of which were written with the Neverland project in mind. Indeed, Steinman composed so much material over the years that a number of songs don't feature in the musical at all given that several songs may cover the same scene or content and that there is limited time to squeeze them all in. One of the most obvious losses, and an odd one given the song's obvious subject matter, is that "Lost Boys And Golden Girls" fails to make an appearance. I can certainly think of a place for the number within the show as is, though there are still a massive number of songs peppered throughout the musical and every song from the first "Bat Out Of Hell" album makes an appearance in one form or another. 

One of the clever aspects of the production is that there are numerous nods to Steinman and the earlier incarnations of the show; from the various lyrics sprawled across the walls to posters and signs to the very shirt that Strat (the Peter Pan of the story) wears - a picture of Jim Steinman himself from The Dream Engine in the role of Baal, the earliest incarnation of Strat.

It is the year 2100 and the island city of Obsidian (once known as Manhattan) is ruled by the tyrant Falco who is opposed by a group of mutants destined to never age beyond 18 called "The Lost". This group resides under the city, in The Deep End, and are led by Strat who has caught the eye of Falco's daughter, Raven. Repercussions follow when Strat elects to kidnap Raven from her isolation; repercussions from both Falco and from Strat's best friend, Tink, whose jealousy is multi-faceted given his own mutation came before puberty took hold. Falco also faces unrest from his unhappy wife, Sloane, as they both ache for the youth which is perpetual for "The Lost".

Steinman's book is relatively simple but there are interesting twists on various aspects of the Peter Pan story whilst the songs blend into the plot seamlessly (or intentionally not), which is no surprise given most were written for one incarnation of Neverland or another. The songs serve to reinforce emotional points and also to drive the plot onward. True, there are a few plot point which could be expanded upon but, given the nature of Steinman's overblown (in the best possible sense) creation, this is not essential; Steinman is retelling a fairy-tale through the medium of rock and roll and it works because of the faerie-tale nature of rock and roll itself. Furthering the powerful nature of the musical score is some beautiful and evocative underscoring which is haunting in itself.
The design of Jon Bausor is also perfectly attuned to Steinman's imagination, from the monumental set which includes dynamic filmic elements to Patrick Woodroffe's lighting design which perfectly walks the line between stadium and theatrical lighting. The projected film elements of Finn Ross also seamlessly tie in with the design and add to expansive nature of the show. The costumes have undergone great changes since the Manchester run (thankfully) and they now feel much more appropriate to the world of Obsidian.
It is easy to say that Bat Out Of Hell has easily become one of those productions where everything works in harmony to benefit the production, and this includes the intelligent direction of Jay Scheib whose experience in directing opera serves him exceedingly well here where he crafts arresting images and events within the excitingly outrageous environment. Even the choreography of Emma Portner, which has received some harsh criticism, feels at home within the onstage world; it may be unconventional for musical theatre (but then there is a lot here that is unconventional) but it is cleverly used to convey the various unwritten stories of the (supporting) characters qualifying the often minimal dialogue and further adding to the depth and complexity of Steinman's universe.

The cast are uniformly excellent and perform with a gusto rarely seen, but with a theatrical sense that conveys the dramatic necessities of the various roles. Even the diction of the cast is crisp, with not a word mumbled or dropped. Each role is named and every cast member is distinctive, though there are primarily three couples whose adventures we follow: Jagwire (Dom Hartley-Harris) adores Zahara (Danielle Steers) but his love is unrequited, despite all the action the two evidently get up to. Both performers bring innate qualities to the parts with Jagwire both a strong and gentle persona whilst Steers' vocals are some of the most distinctive heard for many a year and her sass and inherent sexuality is marked well with every single step she takes. Falco (Rob Fowler) and Sloane (Sharon Sexton) each exhibit the tired energy of middle-aged parents lamenting the loss of the youth that their daughter possesses. Their chemistry and vocal compatibility is sizzling and, with an economy of words, they clearly delineate the decline of the older rocker in the face of ageing. Their 'resurrection' is all the more satisfying because of the powerhouse performances given.

The supporting ensemble, including Ledoux (Giovanni Spano) and Blake (Patrick Sullivan) lend varied emotional power to proceedings along with a variety of vocal tones not often seen in musicals, let alone rock ones. There are standout performances within the (dancing) ensemble also with Anthony Selwyn, Benjamin Purkiss (who also alternates the role of Strat at particular performances) and Olly Dobson among those whose individuality shines through. The character of Tink, as played by Aran MacRae, is the most obvious hold-over from the original J M Barrie tale and is translated here into a jealous and petulant teen whose childlike innocence is contrasted with his desire to be as 'adult' as the remainder of "The Lost". Raven (Christina Bennington) and Strat (Andrew Polec) are the focus of the show and the pair are delicately matched. With stirring vocals, vibrant physical presences and displaying the energising force of youth to the Nth degree, both possess the roles completely with Polec's contortions the embodiment of Steinman's rock sensibilities. It is understandable that script elements were excised when the cast (coupled with the direction and choreography) so readily portray the various dimensions of their characters with - seemingly - relatively little. And it is a credit to the creative team that the cast chosen is one imbued with a youthful spirit that matches their external projections, with vocal qualities that play against the typical 'musical theatre' - or even 'rock' - voices one usually expects on a stage (to the effect that the vocals are often indistinguishable from one performer to the next in a typical production) which further enhances the variations of life within the world of Obsidian. Here the characters are truly alive.

Taking the appropriate excesses of rock and stadium productions together with the nuances and theatricality of the most audacious elements of the stage, Bat Out Of Hell executes Jim Steinman's long-standing vision with a passion and verve not often seen. The cast meet every challenge and raise the bar for musical and vocal performances. The production values are a new high and exudes a force barely contained within the confines of a theatre auditorium. With flawless musical direction the songs are performed to the highest quality by a band (rock orchestra?) that sound as if they are having as much fun as the cast appear to be having onstage. That this musical has come to fruition is something of a miracle in itself in that much of it is more cinematic in scope than theatrical - and it would indeed make a fantastic movie musical given the right director, but it is a credit to theatre that it can and always will pull it out of the bag when required. And, though the production is massive in scope and execution, I have no doubt that a gifted director could make Steinman's material work in a smaller, less technical production (and let's face it - the size of this production means it will never tour in the conventional manner).
Bat Out Of Hell is a monumental, monolithic musical with a scale larger than anything recently conceived of for the musical stage. It is a thrilling joyride of fun, emotion, theatricality and damned great rock and roll! It is a sin that it is only running for a limited time in London before it crosses the Atlantic to hit Toronto. There are rumours that the producers are looking into bringing it back to London next year but either way I suggest you grab a ticket and have your mind blown by the most epic of productions you'll see in quite a while.
If you don't go over the top you can't see what's on the other side, as a great songwriter once said.

"Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell - The Musical", 25/4/17, Opera House, Manchester

I was fortunate enough to revisit the extraordinary Bat Out Of Hell in its final week in Manchester and I can happily say that the production is even better than before.

My first review can be viewed here.

Bat Out Of Hell is pure, unmitigated rock and roll electricity. It infuses the audience with the drive and energy that the greatest rock-n-roll excites and I think this is why every witness of the show I am aware of leaves the production buzzing with energy. It is indeed true that Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through in this astounding production which fuses the best elements of theatre, stadium rock and visual design to tell Jim Steinman's rock and roll retelling of the Peter Pan story:
Strat, and his gang, The Lost - a band of perpetual 18 year olds - live in the tunnels beneath the city of Obsidian which is ruled by the tyrant Falco. The day before Falco's daughter Raven's 18th birthday she encounters The Lost leading Strat to fall for Raven and she for him. Jealously guarding his daughter from the outside world, Falco is equally jealous of the eternal youth that genetic mutation has given the members of The Lost; a youth that both he and his wife, Sloane, ache to retrieve. Soon Strat is stealing into Raven's bedroom and luring her away from Falco Tower, much to his best friend Tink's chagrin. The course of true love never runs smoothly and events will turn sour for all parties until each is reminded of what really matters ...

There has been only the slightest of changes since my last viewing and this includes the removal of a line stipulating the separation period of Strat and Raven as being six months. Now it is left as a non-specific, vague period which does much to satisfy the problem that the jump in time created. That said I still think the song The Future Ain't What It Used To Be would serve excellently at this point with the song's intro playing under the graveyard scene between Strat and Zahara before Strat and Raven go on to share the song proper as the passage of time is visually marked.

I also still wish that the Strat/Tink relationship was developed earlier (I think that Strat's opening monologue - Love And Death And An American Guitar aka Wasted Youth - should be addressed to an admiring Tink; as a devoted follower watching his hero showing off, which would be a start) to further enhance the emotional impact of Tink's choices and ultimate fate. And I hope that the Zahara/Jagwire romance - which fails to offer an appropriate explanation for Zahara succumbing and falling in love with Jagwire - comes to offer the revelation that Jagwire needs to offer Zahara to convince her she can love again; I think the song Ravishing could serve a purpose here. Also requiring further explanation is Zahara's secret occupation - what reason prompts her subtle sympathies toward Falco and his company? At the moment it is little more than a convenient plot device. The final resolutions could also be further clarified, easily rectified by minor changes in direction; we need to see the animosity between Strat and Falco resolved so as to cement and encourage the Strat and Raven coupling at the very end of the show.
True, this is a rock and roll fairy-tale, but certain levels of logic have to be sustained and the above could only strengthen the narrative. Otherwise Jim Steinman's libretto is solid rock and roll fare, solidly presenting the story with little distraction. Steinman's flare for a humorous and/or abstract line feels perfectly at home in this unique world that he has developed with his prodigious musical catalogue further enhancing plot and character with ease. The fact that virtually everything Steinman has written was developed from his initial musical ideas can only further their integration into the plot.

The direction remains tight and focused and the precision and command of Jay Scheib's work is clearly on display throughout the production which expounds succinctly and the combination of Steinman and Scheib's imaginations is an explosion of divine inspiration for the stage.
Emma Portner's choreography is as tight as ever, even if some of the dancing is irrelevant at certain points. It might be worth the choreographer considering changing the motifs in such places to give them a new meaning, if the dances are to serve any purpose at all. That said, there still remain the times when the dances serve to further the entertainment quotient to great success (as is the case in the glorious staging of the brilliantly performed Dead Ringer For Love).
The band, led by Robert Emery, continue to burn through Steinman's score with the necessary excess, serving the composer excellently and it is worthy to note that the variations in the soundscape of the score (including the underscore pieces which themselves include some beautiful, haunting and thrilling writing) are executed to the degree that the music is never dull or repetitive. Gareth Owen's sound design is gauged pretty perfectly as is the lighting by Patrick Woodroffe which, like most elements of the production, takes the best of theatrical and stadium lighting and fuses them to create an appropriate palate, serving the visual and emotional elements of the production to perfection.

The visual elements of Finn Ross are even more impressive second time around and it becomes apparent how sympathetic the audacious set design of Jon Bauser is to them. The dynamic use of the set and the visuals is also all the more impressive on second viewing as this is a show which continues to offer new things on each viewing. The costumes of Meentje Nielson also offer a variety of homages which, for the most part, appeal on numerous levels; from the nods to the 70s and 80s to the t-shirt print of Jim Steinman onstage in one of the earlier incarnations of the musical. The only misstep taken by Nielson seems to be in Ledoux's primary attire (and hairstyle) - the most heavily 70s influenced onstage - which stands out like a sore thumb making the actor appear aged beyond his years, further opposing the idea that he is meant to be eternally 18. If this character's costume can be rectified before the London run then I, for one, will be a happier person.

Speaking of the cast - they have raised the bar even further and every single performer surpasses their previous performances. Dom Hartley-Harris' Jagwire is now on equal footing with the other leads; his performance is now saturated with an added grit and power which feeds into his vocals propelling him into the performing stratosphere. His connection with Steers' Zahara is electric and enthralling. Danielle Steers continues to be the sassiest presence onstage as Zahara and her voice has continued to develop with her husky, smoky quality lending itself to the sultry, foxy character and she is someone to keep an eye on. She is truly one of the most exciting performers I've seen for a long time. Aran MacRae's Tink, the one member of The Lost whose genetics froze him at an earlier age than the others, has developed further emotionally and his lament Not Allowed To Love is a heart-breaker. Rob Fowler as Falco and Sharon Sexton as Sloane have also surpassed themselves in their portrayals: Fowler is frightening and sympathetic in turns and the frustration and redemption of Sexton is palpable and their relationship is easily understood and translated to the audience whose response to their rendition of Paradise By The Dashboard Light (which is a moment of inspired conception and direction) is a real roof-raiser. The ensemble excel as a company and there are numerous moments where one or two members stand out as Anthony Selwyn and Olly Dobson do. The three primary members of The Lost - Jagwire (Hartley-Harris), Ledoux (Giovanni Spano) and Blake (Patrick Sullivan) serve as excellent vocal support in many numbers but really come into their own with their emotional performance of Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are. As Raven Christina Bennington continues to shine with her voice raising the roof on many an occasion, especially in her stunning rendition of Heaven Can Wait where she showcases her emotional command. The ebullient and striking Strat of Andrew Polec dominates proceedings and Polec is a strong leading man with his physicality continually pushing the boundaries and his powerful voice striking into one's soul. His chemistry with Bennington is utterly flammable and Polec's frame, movement, facial expression and outright etherealness perfectly encapsulate all the teenage angst and sexuality that Steinman has poured into his work and it's hard to think of anyone more perfect for the role. Something that could actually be said about pretty much every member of this exceptional and well-cast company.

Bat Out Of Hell really is an exceptional production and one Jim Steinman and his fellow creatives should take utmost pride in. Despite any minor flaws it is a musical of many riches and worthy of repeat visits and of many future productions; the material offers so much to work with that I can envisage many, utterly different takes on it, as any truly great piece can attest. Indeed, it is a musical that stretches the ideals of musical theatre. It is probably more akin to opera in many respects but is really unlimited by any genre. It is its own beast and that is something to take pride in, no matter what the future may hold.

"Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell - The Musical", Opera House, Manchester, 24/3/17

Awesome. Emotional. Epic. Exhilarating. Gut-busting. Intense. Monumental. Powerful. Rocking. Stunning. Wagnerian.

Perfectly synthesising varied elements ranging from the graphic novel to the rock concert Jim Steinman's apocalyptic rock retelling of the Peter Pan story finally bursts onto the stage in a production that manages to equal the audacity of Steinman's songwriting more than 40 years since the project was initiated as the musical The Dream Engine and its revision Neverland, spawning the Bat Out Of Hell album and influencing virtually everything Steinman has since written.
Though it is termed a 'musical' Bat Out Of Hell really is more akin to an opera, both in writing and execution and only as an opera can the audacious nature of the work be granted full release so that it is able to achieve its potential success. Yes, 'musical' is a more marketable, more commercial term but Bat Out Of Hell is really a modern opera. As it should be:

In the year 2100 the city of Obsidian (formerly Manhattan) is ruled over by Falco who keeps his daughter Raven a virtual prisoner in his tower home, along with his wife, Sloane. Under the city live The Lost, a tribe of mutants whose genes ensure they never age beyond the age of 18. Their leader is Strat who falls for Raven when he first sets eyes on her. The feeling is reciprocated and Raven makes her escape as soon as she can, enraging Falco as well as Strat's best friend, Tink, a fellow Lost Boy who is unique in that his genes make him younger than all the others to the point that where others may ride motorcycles, Tink has to rely on his bicycle. Tink's uniqueness also means that he is never able to fulfil his sexual desires, primarily aimed at Strat, which leads to his growing jealousy toward his idol. The teenage sexual angst drives the various strands of the plot, even where that angst is jealously longed for by Falco, eager to recapture the passion that youth promised.

Steinman's libretto is somewhat rudimentary and reliant on his penchant for a unique turn of phrase but this actually works in favour of the production helping to establish the world and its language whilst harking back to the fairy-tale nature of the source material: basic, but detailed when required. It's also laced with humour and pathos and has its surprisingly moving moments.

The arrangements by Steve Sidwell and Michael Reed of Steinman's songs are excellently executed and the orchestrations have a variety about them that maintains a consistent feel within the nature of the production. Indeed some arrangements are downright stunningly haunting (Heaven Can Wait for one). Robert Emery's musical direction is well judged and Gareth Owen's sound design serves Steinman's songs well, though sometimes the numerous speakers  seem barely able to contain them. The use of the songs throughout the libretto are perfectly attuned to the necessary plot elements, elaborating plot details and/or character emotion and none seem superfluous; even Dead Ringer For Love serves a purpose within the subplot between Zahara and Jagwire. Steinman's lyrics also feel perfectly at home on the grand musical stage and any minor tweaks he has made work for the better.

The set design by Jon Bausor is rich in theatrical/cinematic fluidity and it metamorphoses succinctly between numerous locations and the integration of Finn Ross' video projection and Patrick Woodroffe's awesome lighting is uniquely congruent. There are numerous references to various Steinman lyrics and projects within the set design, from the Bad For Good album artwork on Raven's bedroom wall (she oft quotes the opening lines of the title song of that album) to the Life Is A Lemon graffiti adorning some of the geological rock elements of the set. The costumes by Meentje Nielson equally establish a world of the future that echoes the past whilst retaining comedic elements as is true throughout the production.
The synergy created between the design elements and the vision of the musical's director, Jay Scheib, ultimately shaping Steinman's dream, is such that the images and happenings onstage are exhilarating and surprising, generating diverse environments and energies making the theatrical experience a cinematic one and it is a testament to the production and its direction that what is witnessed is so kinetic that it sweeps the audience along, no doubt aided by a design which encroaches into the auditorium, drawing them into the onstage world completely.
The pacing, the mood, the tension and the emotional impact are almost universally exquisitely executed by Scheib who utilises the music, the lyrics and the dialogue to exacting precision. That he is versed in directing opera is a boon to the production with the opera staging style well integrated into the more usual form of musical theatre directing, never glaringly obvious but perfectly natural to the epic, over-the-top nature of Steinman's material.
Emma Portner's choreography is distinct and sometimes akin to that that may be seen in a Steinman music video; indeed its use is occasionally to the same end, as the dance is not always essential to the plot, but rather it is a visual element since the dancers are not really part of a scene, but even then it is unusual in that they never distract from the lead characters whose song or scene it may be and who always retain the audience's attention. In other sequences, though, the dancers are an essential element and are often used as a storytelling device, simultaneously providing the backing vocals to create the Steinman sound. The performers' energy and enthusiasm is never waning and their stamina is noteworthy.

Of course, the production isn't perfect; the opening medley of songs could be trimmed further and the subplot of Tink's love and friendship of Strat could be established earlier and more successfully to make what happens later more profound, as could the relationship between Zahara and Jagwire which needs a little more elaborating to make her falling for him (after confessing she loves someone else) more believable. More time also needs to be taken between Strat and Raven's separation and reunion which, at present, passes in the blink of an eye; perhaps here would be a more suitable use of the song It Just Won't Quit or even the song The Future Ain't What It Used To Be. Likewise the final resolutions could be more established to create a more concrete finale. Were I to be even more critical then I'd point out that the 'California' reference in For Crying Out Loud may need altering if it is a literal lyric as the city of Obsidian is indicated to be the former Manhattan whereas, in the original Neverland, it was actually in California, which would make the lyric appropriate. That said the lyric can be an abstract, wishful reference and is such a small quibble that it is almost irrelevant.
Of course, given the amount of material Steinman has written over the years it's impossible for a stage production to feature every song (or song extract) heard on any of the Bat Out Of Hell albums without the production running for less than four hours (don't worry, it doesn't - it currently runs just over two and half hours) and there will inevitably be one or two numbers omitted that Steinman and Meat Loaf fans will lament the loss of; Lost Boys And Golden Girls is just one of the songs that you won't hear in the stage show, but there are plenty of numbers to satiate any die-hard fan. That said, if any further revisions happen (perhaps to rectify any of the points illustrated above) then I can certainly see a use for some of the omitted album tracks, or even extracts from them, such as using the bridge (and perhaps more) from Good Girls Go To Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere) in place of the current position of It Just Won't Quit which would facilitate the latter song's re-use as I describe above. But these are decisions for the creative team to make.

The casting as almost uniformly excellent with the company blessed with truly outstanding credible rock voices and a physicality that exudes the youthful energies and drives that Steinman captures so well.
Andrew Polec as Strat is a dynamo and his lean, youthful looks and big voice perfectly capture the figure of permanent youth and sexual energy as any alter-ego of Jim Steinman should. He rises well above the challenges that he faces in the role and he leads from the front giving a truly spellbinding performance.
Christina Bennington's Raven is a full-throated, raging, vivacious teenager, rebelling against her parents blessed with a powerful voice and beautiful stage presence.
As Tink Aran MacRae is a delicate creature whose tender voice and charisma beautifully captures the tragedy of the character, caught in a world in which he can never really participate.
The sexually charged Sloane is portrayed with scintillatingly by Sharon Sexton who has ample opportunity to let her vigorous vocals shine, especially in the incredibly staged Paradise By The Dashboard Light which she shares with the prowling, masculine Falco of Rob Fowler whose aching need to recapture his youth, whilst restraining his own daughter's, is elegantly performed by an actor whose vocal qualities are perfectly suited to Steinman's work. 

Whilst still pleasant to hear, it's unfortunate that Dom Hartley-Harris' vocal range means he isn't quite on par with his fellow singers in handling the demanding ranges of Steinman's songs - he chooses to sing lower harmony lines at times - and he sometimes appears ill-at-ease onstage whilst the connection and his charisma is somewhat lacking in the relationship with Danielle Steers' dynamic and thrilling Zahara whose voice is one of the most unique and memorable. Steers is a powerful force on the stage and one of the most mesmeric performers of recent years. Indeed there is quite a large number of incredible performers gracing the stage in Bat Out Of Hell.

Not to take anything away from otherwise rousing performances but there are also, sadly, one or two members of The Lost - Giovanni Spano being one - who appear physically too old (at least as they appear in character onstage) to credibly play a 'frozen' - never appearing to age beyond 18 - but as these are seldom centre of attention this incongruousness is often dismissed.
The powerful voices and physicality that Bat Out Of Hell demands - and requires - is in plentiful abundance in this production and they, for the most part, serve Jim Steinman excellently.

Bat Out Of Hell is perhaps the ultimate rock musical - certainly the ultimate rock opera - and given that Steinman's songs have always been character and story driven this eases their integration into the realms of a dramatic structure more than most other rock musicals which utilise some pre-existing music. The plot and its children's story origin also have that something which exudes the ideals of 'rock', given the concept of burgeoning sexuality inherently simmers below the surface of the original J. M. Barrie story with Wendy (translated here into the character of Raven) on the cusp of womanhood. Steinman of course brings such elements well to the fore which is entirely appropriate for rock which has always been associated with sex ever since the genre emerged. The execution of direction and design is appropriately gauged and the musical becomes one of those rare creations where every element fuses in harmony to create the glorious whole.