REVIEW: Bat Out of Hell - The Musical

© Chris Davis Studio

A jukebox musical based on one of the world’s bestselling rock opera albums comes to the Birmingham stage.

Bat Out of Hell - The Musical is now playing at The Alexandra Theatre.

Meat Loaf’s legendary record was released just before Halloween in 1977 and it set a new benchmark for rock music by mixing a whole number of styles - blues, rock, opera, goth, and even metal - which continues to inspire and influence musicians, artists and writers.

The songs on the iconic album were written by Jim Steinman who had developed the material from a musical called Neverland which he had composed for a workshop. This dystopian version of Peter Pan is mined for the story that unfolds in the thrilling rock opera Bat Out of Hell - The Musical.

In a post-apocalyptic world, where the rich elite live in luxury in their high towers and the poor and downtrodden live in tunnels overflowing with vice and violence, two young people from across these divides fall in love and defy their respective backgrounds for a cosmic cause.

Raven, the daughter of the dictator who runs the city with an iron fist, is entranced and drawn to the forbidden sensual allure, and freedom, offered by those who live far below in the derelict subterranean subways. Raven’s caged existence at the home of her oppressive father suddenly becomes thrilling and exciting when her path crosses with that of Strat who haunts the underbelly of the city. Strat is a youthful and playful Peter Pan figure with his Lost Boys who are a bunch of misfits and tearaways who get up to all kinds of mischief and sexy fun.

The show is packed with dark drama that is not afraid to touch on topics such as the vast chasm of inequality between the rich and poor, injustice, totalitarianism, corruption, and misinformation.

However, the show is not all about doom and gloom; the material also includes comedy, sizzling dancing, and some astounding singing that heats up the theatre with passion and glitz.

Talking of glitz, the show is a dazzling circus of delights with sets and costumes that are breathtaking. Add some spicy dancing and gorgeous lighting and you have a night to remember.

A major gripe in this stage show is the introduction of a cameraman who films segments of the shows which is live beamed onto a screen. This gimmick is tacky and pointless and results in robbing the show of some poignant and dramatic moments, and the stage ends up becoming too fussy and overcrowded with material. Sometimes less is more because it allows the audience to home in on the emotions and delicate moments.

Another thing which the show failed to capitalise on was the iconic motorcycle. The imagery of the motorcycle is not only a key component of the album cover art by Richard Corben, but it’s also referenced in some of the tracks on the record. The stage show does include the motorcycle but the way the machine is lit, framed and displayed on stage is unimaginative and lacklustre.

All of the much-loved Meat Loaf songs from the timeless album are present and correct in the show, and the material is sung with real power and passion. Stadium anthems such as Dead Ringer for Love and Bat Out of Hell jostle perfectly with power ballads such as I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) and It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.

Katie Tonkinson (Raven) and Glenn Adamson (Strat) share a fiery chemistry that generates some spectacular heat which drives the audience into a frenzy of appreciation.  

Bat Out of Hell - The Musical is one hell of a show that’ll make your heart pulse with passion.

Verdict: ★★★★

Bat Out of Hell - The Musical is now playing at The Alexandra Theatre until  Saturday 22nd February