Short & Sweet Critic Patrick Murphy of Elgin reviews Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale with host Diana Martinez of Broadway in Chicago
Patrick Murphy of Elgin joined Diana Martinez of Broadway in Chicago to review the opening night of Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas as the Short & Sweet guest critic. Murphy, a stage manager at Profiles Theater in Chicago, drew upon his experience in the theater industry to critique the show. Murphy describes the show as a rock concert mixed with a comedy show: "You were laughing at one moment; the next you're up clapping, stamping your feet, rocking rock show." According to Murphy, it's different from typical holiday shows and has a broad appeal for audience members of all ages.
See below for a review by Diana Martinez:
Move over "A Christmas Carol", there's a new show in town
Move over A Christmas Carol, Dee Snider is in town with his all new rock and roll Christmas story! The show is narrated by writer and Twisted Sister lead singer Dee Snider himself and is a fresh departure from any typical traditional holiday show you've ever seen. This musical comedy is filled with puns, movie quotes, and rock Christmas music mash-ups. The plot revolves around a wannabe heavy metal band Däisy Cütter who thinks they have sold their soul to the devil in exchange for fame and fortune. However, due to a spelling error they come to find they sold their soul to someone else… Whenever they try to bang out a metal tune a strange twist occurs and their music has a holiday spin that builds a huge YouTube following.
My guest critic Patrick Murphy really captured the spirit of the opening night audience
"I thought the show had a rock concert atmosphere mixed with a comedy club. At one moment the audience was laughing; the next were stomping their feet and cheering like they were at a concert. The characters are very funny, but caricatures of real life. A sweet romance story permeated a part of the plot. Some of the situations seemed a bit far fetched, but had a good moral story at the end."
The show has wonderful costumes with a big nod to the 80's and also wonderful rock lighting that energizes each number. The opening night audience was in the concert spirit holding up red and green lights in homage to the music throughout the show. The encore finale with Dee Snider belting out a tune was without a doubt the icing on the cake to an exciting evening. The audience leapt to their feet and joined right in.
If you're looking for a date night show, or a family outing with teens, this is the holiday show for you. It's funny and heart warming and the high-energy rock versions of some of your favorite holiday tunes will definitely get you in the spirit. The show runs about 90 minutes with no intermission and plays through January 4th, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and is probably best for those ages 12 and up.