Chris David
Chris David
upfront
Feature Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell
rides into
Swansea As the late Jim Steinman’s musical adaption of Bat Out Of Hell – his 1977 album with the similarly late Meat Loaf – approaches Swansea Arena, Rhiannon Farr explains what makes it a OTT opera-pop classic whose popularity will outlive us all, as well as providing a snippet of what to expect from her review of its Cardiff stop-off…
Following a stellar run in London’s West End, Jim Steinman’s highly rated stage musical Bat Out Of Hell has embarked on a 2022 UK and Ireland tour. By no means the first time rock music has been adapted for the stage – take Rock Of Ages or We Will Rock You – this show is unique in that it’s adapted from a rock album in its entirety, and one of the best-selling of all time, in fact. Created between Marvin Lee ‘Meat Loaf’ Aday and Jim Steinman, Bat Out Of Hell is a musical masterpiece that has withstood the test of time – and its stage adaptation has been met with equal adoration.
REVIEW
Bat Out Of Hell New Theatre, Cardiff, Tue 27 Sept
If you are going to see any musical theatre this year, make it Bat Out Of Hell. A non-stop thrill ride that renders you physically breathless by the interval, it’s a show that simply cannot be missed for rock fans. A loose retelling of Peter Pan, the show follows 18-year-old Raven (Martha Kirby), who wishes to join the Lost, a gang of rebellious outcasts who will remain 18 forever.
Kirby and Glenn Adamson, who plays angsty frontman Strat, are beautiful performers and well cast, but it’s Raven’s parents that steal the show: Falco and Sloane (Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton) are possibly the most hilarious stage couple I’ve encountered. As a whole, though, the ensemble is ridiculously talented, the choreography exquisitely performed and the vocal prowess on display that of seasoned rock stars, resulting in a musical that feels more like a concert.
The production’s set, lighting and pyrotechnics offer further unique components while Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman’s collaborative hits translate brilliantly to the stage and their legacies honoured by the cast. At the end of this performance, Fowler implored the audience, “Tell everyone live theatre is back!” before we’re treated to one final song in tribute to Meat Loaf, who would have turned 75 today.
RHIANNON FARR
Interestingly, Steinman developed the album after having worked on a musical named Neverland, a futuristic rock show loosely based on the story of Peter Pan. This, in turn, inspired the story for the Bat Out Of Hell stage show, itself also a loose Pan retelling. Bat’s roots in musical theatre considerably influence the ease in which it was translated for the stage, and help explain why it seems like it’s not a traditional concept album. Steinman had been striving to create a magnum opus since 1968, and his decades of hard work certainly paid off when his album opened as a stage show nearly 50 years later.
Many of the songs on Bat were somewhat inspired by other iconic rock songs of the era, and these influences blend together to produce unforgettable and epic tracks. The opener alone has a runtime of nearly 10 minutes, longer tracks that are perfect for a musical as they allow for actors to showcase their talent on a large scale and set out significant plot points.
Unlike other rock albums of the 1970s, Bat does not have a linear story; rather, a central theme of love and desire running throughout the tracks. This allowed Steinman to curate the plot of the stage show without being tied down by an existing storyline, meaning he had full control over how his music would be used.
Jukebox musicals tend to be either loved or hated by musical theatre fans, mainly due to oversaturation on Broadway and the West End: the likes of Mamma Mia!, Tina and Juliet have dominated theatres across the world for the sense of familiarity they provide to audiences. Bat Out Of Hell, however, is an entirely different experience. Acclaimed by critics and accessible to anyone, Meat Loaf fan or not, this is an album that’s still beloved 45 years later, and translates perfectly to the stage.
Bat Out Of Hell, Swansea Arena, Tue 6-Thurs 15 Dec. Tickets: £13-£59.50. Info:
swansea-arena.co.uk
Tues 13 Dec, 7.30pm. Scan to enter
4 tickets to Bat Out Of Hell,
WIN:
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