Tom and MiG rocking Manila

Rock of Ages is in town. The movie, starring Tom Cruise, opens in local theatres on Wednesday, June 13. The next day, June 14, Thursday, the Atlantis production of the Tony-nominated musical on which the film was based, will open at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Plaza in Makati. These two shows will, of course, come with massive promo push in all available media. And if the contagion catches on then we will be steeped in glam rock music in the next months.

Not that there is anything new about that. The songs of Bon Jovi, Journey, Starship, REO Speedwagon and others of the same type remain big favorites out here. And those songs are what Rock of Ages is all about. Written by Chris D’ Arienzo, the Broadway musical is a love story about aspiring rock artists. Set in the ’80s, it is built around the rock tunes of the period and is performed with a live rock band on stage. Some of the songs used are Just Like Paradise, We Built This City, I Wanna Rock, More Than Words, I Want To Know What Love Is, Any Way You Want It, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Can’t Fight This Feeling and Every Rose Has Its Thorn.

Playing the young lovers Drew and Sherrie in the movie are Diego Boneta and Julianne Hough. In the same roles in the local production are Nyoy Volante and Vina Morales. American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis was a memorable Drew on Broadway and was even honored with a Tony nomination for Best Actor in the Lead Role in a Musical. We now have the opportunity to find out if acoustic singer Nyoy and Latin heartthrob Diego will be up to the demands of the role.

The performance though that many are curious about is that of Cruise as the aging rocker Stacee Jaxx. I heard that he did his own singing in the motion picture soundtrack. If I am not mistaken, this is the first time that we will hear Cruise sing, and heavy rock songs at that. If the movie is faithful to the play then we will hear him belting out or maybe screaming Styx’s Renegade or Bon Jovi’s Wanted Dead or Alive. 

Cruise has not had good luck with his choice of roles lately. His Knight and Day should be totally erased from memory. Will his rocker be another dud? But on the other hand his best portrayals are those in featured parts of unlikely characters, as in White Magnolia and Tropic Thunder. So who knows, he might just come off great in something flamboyant that calls for over the top acting like Stacee Jaxx. And he will also get to fulfill that wonderful fantasy of being a rock star.

If you want to be assured of a great Stacee Jaxx, then you should not miss the Atlantis Rock of Ages. This is because set to play the part is Philippine-born rocker MiG Ayesa. This guy has Stacee Jaxx perfectly mastered down to every note and to the slightest nuance because he has played the role on Broadway and in the US touring company. Heard that MiG is very good and this should be a good opportunity for us to check out this guy who is now bringing pride to the Pinoys with his work on Broadway and in London’s West End. MiG was also in the Queen musical We Will Rock You where he played Galileo.

 Now it has been said often enough that just as it is always better to read the book first before the movie, it is always best to see the stage musical first before the movie version. The film is seldom as good as the original. West Side Story and Chicago are isolated cases. I do not know how Rock of Ages will fare on the screen. Will I cringe in my seat every time Cruise sings? I hope not. I also hope that most of us get the chance to watch not only the picture but also the musical where Filipino talents will be performing.

The Atlantis Rock of Ages also stars Jett Pangan, Aiza Seguerra, Jinky Llamanzares, Jamie Wilson and Calvin Millado. The movie has Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giammati Russell Brand and Mary J. Blige.