Rock of Ages - Proof that Australia kicks butt at Theatre

[Brooklyn3]

Posted: 7/21/11 at 9:13pm

I saw the Australian version of Rock Of Ages a few weekends ago and I was blown away by the quality of it. I've always been very wary of when Australia does Broadway (or anything, really!) but ROA was just amazing. My sister and I have both seen ROA on Broadway (at separate times with different casts and even different theatres) and we both agree that the Australian production is much better.

I also felt this way about Avenue Q. I was very unsure about if we were going to pull it off or not and it ended up being my favourite version by far (and I have seen it on the West End and Off-Broadway).

I'm really looking forward to what we do next.

I also believe we have the best Phantom in the world (I mean Anthony Warlow, I haven't seen Ben Lewis) although admittedly I have never seen Phantom anywhere else (yet!). I just can't imagine anyone being better than him.

And then Wicked was world class as well and we've ended up being the saviour of Love Never Dies and basically I'm very proud to have been proven wrong.

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 6:32pm

I haven't seen ROA but I know HAIRSPRAY director Adam Shankman is filming it right now.

I agree about AVENUE Q and thought it would have run longer. The Saturday night I saw it was packed, and the audience lapped it up.

I've never seen PHANTOM and am looking forward to seeing it on Broadway this Xmas. I was in Las Vegas last week and whilst I've been told the chandelier crash is more spectacular, the show is abridged so gamblers won't be away from their vices too long (!!!!)

I thought our WICKED was as good as Broadway's. I saw Broadway, Melbourne and Sydney.

I also recently saw HAIRSPRAY in Sydney and was stunned by the use of the animated sets. I've never seen anything like it. I saw the original Broadway cast for this show, and our production is, design-wise, drastically different, and there were a few adjustments to tie it in with the film But as an entertainment, I thought it was wonderful and hilariously funny. I was amazed that it was not a full house on a Saturday night, only having recently opened, but that's Sydney for you.