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Review: Superb cast cements Chemainus Theatre’s Rock Legends as a hit

This is what makes the whole thing worth getting tickets.
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The sounds of Motown are just one piece of a new show at the Chemainus Theatre that takes the audience on a journey through 20 years of rock and roll. (Citizen file)

Chemainus Theatre Festival has another hit on their hands with their summer musical Rock Legends.

Framed as the final Roy Solomon Show (think the Ed Sullivan Show) this production takes the audience on a musical journey through 20 years of rock and roll, from the 1950s to the 1970s.

The sequal to the smash hit Twist & Shout: The British Invasion, Rock Legends follows a similar format, with TV show host Roy Solomon (Ted Simonett) guiding the audience through the years and the acts. Simonett perfectly captures the energy and fun, but also the bittersweet nostalgia of a longtime host saying goodbye to the stage he loves. Which is to say there are a whole bunch of silly costumes, bad puns that will make you smile, and a funny riff of James Bond films that’s a great interlude.

Said interlude also shows off the talents of the four principle dancers in the cast, Braiden Stevenson, Caitlynn Miller, Julio Fuentes and Shae Bourne. Hats off to these four for keeping the show moving, literally, on a challengingly small stage, while also singing backup on big show numbers.

And what a talented cast for those big numbers it is.

This is what makes the whole thing worth getting tickets. There’s no real story to follow here, just a lot of great music, performed expertly by Aadin Church, Michael Clarke, Duff MacDonald, Michel LaFleche, and Justin Stadnyk on the men’s side, and Stephanie Roth, Jennifer Kee and Jocelyn Gauthier on the ladies side.

There are so many great moments I couldn’t possibly list them all, and you’ll leave the show with your own favourites (maybe not even the same ones you went in with), but MacDonald, who was also in Twist & Shout, was once again terrific here, showing himself to be the best chameleon of the bunch with a wide vocal range, going from doing Elton John to a member of the Beach Boys, or Elvis without breaking stride.

Stadnyk (who played the lead in last year’s Footloose) was a real standout here as well, demonstrating a great falsetto along with excellent comedic timing in a bit about the Four Seasons, all the way to a hilariously intense tribute to the Rolling Stones. There’s plenty in between, too.

All three of the women are exceptional, easily owning the stage one after the other. Roth, Kee and Gauthier could easily have a show all their own and pack them in every night.

Watch for a running gag involving Sonny and Cher, that only starts with a man in drag.

Even if this is not your musical era, you’ll recognize most of the songs — there’s a reason they’re legends, after all. The show moves smoothly from Buddy Holly to Motown, Stevie Wonder to the Mamas & the Papas, Hair, Simon and Garfunkel, The Supremes and Janis Joplin.

There’s even a much-appreciated Canadian set including Bachman Turner Overdrive and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

If this is your musical era, it’s an unforgettable trip down memory lane, and if it’s not, you’ll get to hear some of music’s best by a great cast and, I bet, a few more songs for your playlist.

Rock Legends runs from June 2 to Aug. 26. For tickets call 1-800-565-7738 or go to chemainustheatre.ca



Andrea Rondeau

About the Author: Andrea Rondeau

I returned to B.C. and found myself at the Cowichan Valley Citizen.
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