I have not
seen a jukebox musical as torturously bad as The Heart of Rock and Roll since
Escape to Margaritaville in 2018.
Even Huey Lewis and the News’s songs fail to give a spark of redemption
in this two-and-a-half-hour time waster at the James Earl Theatre.
The success or failure of these types of shows is largely with the book writer, in this case, Jonathan A. Abrams, with a story – using that word loosely – by Tyler Mitchell and Abrams.
Biographical jukeboxes work with a skilled writer because they tell a story. In shows like Heart the story is contrived to fit around the songs. Set in 1987, Bobby (Corey Cott) toils away on the assembly line at Stone Box Co. in Milwaukee, producing cardboard boxes while singing with his band and dreaming of a music career. His love interest will be the boss’s daughter, Cassandra (McKenzie Kurtz), who manages to fill two stereotypes, ditzy blond and Type-A perfectionist. He’s uninteresting; she’s annoying.
The only
somewhat interesting character is Roz (Tamika Lawrence), the smart-aleck HR
director. She’s the one entrusted with
probably the best-known song, “The Power of Love,” which I had been singing in
my head all day in anticipation of hearing it performed live. It’s the beloved song from the movie “Back to
the Future.” As I expected, it was the
finale, only without the sizzle of Lewis’s recording or the power of a good
send-off. It sounded anemic compared to
Lewis’s version. The entire cast
came out to surround Roz, smothering the effect of that good song.
Heart, which is directed by Gordon
Greenberg, lacks another element of a good musical. Lorin Latarro’s choreography relies heavily
on the ensemble jumping up and down in number after number, with some
somersaults and ballet moves interwoven.
Latarro is also the choreographer for the revival of Tommy, also
recently opened on Broadway. I loved her
work on that show.
My guest
left at intermission, something she says she never does, but there was nothing
about The Heart of Rock and Roll that made her want to stay.
