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Theatre Review: Bat Out Of Hell The Musical - Dominion Theatre, London ✭✭✭✭✭

Bat Out Of Hell
The Musical

Dominion Theatre
London


24 April 2018: After hearing lots of good reports about this show, I decided to jump on the Harley and head into the West End to see for myself what it was all about. The first thing that hits you is the size of the staging - it's rather big! The industrial yet retro feel to the set bulges into the auditorium, even clawing above your heads around the auditorium, with a small orchestra pit and water feature added in for good measure, Jon Bausor has done a fine set design indeed, and it lends itself to a video and lighting backdrop which is utilised nicely by Lighting Designer Patrick Woodroffe with Video from Finn Ross.

Story wise, well there isn't much of one to be honest. Teenager Raven is trying to escape the grasps of her father Falco, and end up in the arms of Strat, the boy who doesn't age past the year of 18, lives outside on the streets, rides a motorbike - you get the gist! This enables the songs from Jim Steinman to intertwine with the action... and it works bloody brilliantly!

Hats off to the band who play a remarkable set, the orchestrations are second to none from Steve Sidwell, hitting you from the set go, with a rousing opening number of All Revved Up With No Place to Go. The classics from Meat Loaf's albums are here in full glory, Paradise By the Dashboard Light is given a wonderful makeover and sounds sublime. MD Robert Emery and his band are a delight to listen to, with a superb sound design from Gareth Owen.

When it comes to the cast, well where do we start? Lets start things off by saying that the whole lot of them put in a fabulous two and a half hours of adrenaline pumped singing and choreography, energy  never going below the batshit crazy level. The harmonies and support the ensemble deliver to the leading characters are amazing.

That brings me to the star crossed lovers of the show - Andrew Polec (Strat) and Christina Bennington (Raven) - one word can describe their performances... WOW! For crying out loud, what great vocals these two have, the rapport they have with each other is engaging. The other main pairing of Rob Fowler (Falco) and Sharon Sexton (Sloane) who play Raven's Mother and Father is another casting joy. Ive already mentioned Paradise By the Dashboard Light, but these two make it their own.

But I've saved the best until last, the stand out performance for me is undoubtedly Danielle Steers (Zahara) - Oh my my, what a voice! Powerful vocals in Two Out of Three Ain't Bad and Dead Ringer for Love cascade around the auditorium when Danielle lets rip - absolutely brilliant!

For Crying Out Loud... Should you go see this show? Absolutely! You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth and I'd Do Anything for a ticket to see this show again! Bravo everyone, bravo!!!

Five Stars ✭✭✭✭✭

BUY TICKETS HERE

Twitter & Facebook:  @BatTheMusical

LISTINGS INFORMATION
Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical

Dominion Theatre
268-269 Tottenham Court Road
London W1T 7AQ
Performances:  Mon-Sat at 7.30pm, Wed & Sat matinee at 2.30pm

Tickets:  from £15.00
Box Office:  0845 200 7982
Current Booking Period:  to 27 October 2018

Running Time:  2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)




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