Bat Out of Hell – A Dead Ringer For One of the Best Shows in Town

There couldn’t have been a better time to watch BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL at the New Theatre in Cardiff this week. It would have been the 75th birthday of the great man MEATLOAF. The Musical Director is a Welsh lad through and through, and the theatre was absolutely crammed full of enthusiastic fans – Happy Birthday Meat.

I also came to the show as a lifelong fan of Meat and the music of JIM STEINMAN, the one who wrote the original, and all subsequent albums. I have seen Meat on more than a few occasions, was lucky enough to interview him twice, and like most of last nights audience, have played the incredible Bat Out of Hell album (on vinyl of course), till it’s almost worn out.

So as I stepped into the theatre, having listened to Meat on the journey into town, I felt I was giving a subliminal message of – ‘OK you lot, come on and entertain me with something really special’. And you know what? I actually think they heard me, because they did, and it was.

Take a look at our video with the opening night audience reaction further down the page.

It’s a no-brainer turning this almost 50 million copy selling, 1977 album into a stage musical. Lyrically, the record is a theatrical experience in itself. If you’re in any doubt just skip to the second track, ‘You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)‘ and you’ll see what I mean.

The opening line spoken by Meat…….

“On a hot summer night would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?”

It’s this everyday phrase, turned into something so meaningful and poignant which made Jim the lyrical genius he was.

The show is by no means a Meatloaf greatest hits thing, although to be fair, it does feature most of his biggest songs, and some. There’s tracks from both of the Bat Out of Hell albums, the anthemic ‘Dead Ringer for Love‘ and the ‘and some‘ are a coupe of new songs which Jim wrote especially for the show.

The stirring, ‘What Part of My Body Hurts The Most’ and ‘Not Allowed to Love‘ are a little more Lloyd Webber than Meat Loaf, but nevertheless move the story along nicely and fit the plot really well, particularly the former which is performed with such emotion.

The story, as you would expect from its source material, is all about wild, untameable men, and women who are not prepared to offer their full selves – think the song ‘Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad‘ and you’ve pretty much got the idea.

Strat (GLENN ADAMSON) is the forever young leader of rebellious gang, The Lost, as they roam the streets of Obsidian, a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, ruled by the wicked and tyrannical Falco (ROB FOWLER). When Strat first sets eyes on Falco’s daughter, Raven (MARTHA KIRBY), who has been locked away in the palace towers, he sets out to rescue her from her evil father’s clutches in a full throttle tale of teenage love, youthful rebellion and living the rock and roll dream.

Also key to the story is Raven’s mother Sloane (LAURA JOHNSON). The four main performers are all captivating on stage, each in very different ways. Strat and Raven are the perfect star crossed lovers, with a will they, won’t they undercurrent running through their story.

Falco and Sloane however, are the very unlikely to ever get it together again married couple. Their performance of ‘Paradise By The Dashboard Light‘ is one of the stand out moments for me. It is saucy and sexy, but equally hilarious. Lyrically it’s an absolutely enormous song, in facts, it’s like two songs smushed together. Rob and Laura musically pull it off brilliantly, but also act their little pink pants off too. You’ll get what we mean when you see the show.

And on that note, let’s get to the opening night audience to give us their take on Bat Out of Hell – The Musical. As you’ll hear the theeatre was absolutely packed to capacity, and very loud.

At the end of the performance, the cast paid a special tribute and asked us to take out our phones to shine a light for Meat on his birthday.

The Happy Birthday shout-out at the end of the film comes courtesy of HOG – WELSH DRAGON CHAPTER CARDIFF.

If you’re a die hard fan of the album, and Jim Steinman’s work, you’ll know the original idea for Bat Out of Hell was a Peter Pan based musical written Rock and Roll style. The J.M. Barrie estate didn’t quite get the concept, so their loss became the musical world’s gain, with the creation of the classic album.

I mention this because the show does have a little nod to the original concept, and actually has a touch of Pan about it – boys never really growing into the men they should be, until they are sprinkled with the love of the right woman. Watch out for Tink, played by KILLIAN THOMAS LEFERVE who is definitely a wink to the classic Tinker Bell. Oh yes, and the gang are also called The Lost……

You definitely go to see the show for the music but the set and design has all the elements you’d want in a Meat/Jim musical.

Director JAY SCHEIB has held nothing back with this effects filled production, which is loud and thrilling. The use of screens and live cameras on stage is incredibly effective and catapults you right into the heart and emotions of the story and characters. On the original album Jim Steinman is credited with many things, keyboards and guitars but our favourite is lascivious effects. I think that baton has now been passed over to Jay.

Set and costume designer JON BAUSOR has also gone to town with his vision. What we really enjoyed about the design of the show is that it looks like the original album cover made us feel.

The cast are right at the top of their game, and also their fitness. Bat Out of Hell is relentless from start to finish. We were exhausted watching the show so heaven knows how the cast feel at the end of the two hours plus they are on stage.

The songs are familiar, but the arrangements add a new twist to these household favourites. When the opening notes are played however, you are in no doubt as to which Meatloaf classic you’re about to hear.

And that brings us to the band, under the Musical Direction of lestyn Griffiths. Outstanding, no other word for it. I feel sure both Jim and Meat would be proud of the show these guys turned out. It needs a great band of musicians to carry off these precious songs we all hold so dear, be in doubt the Bat Out of Hell band did that with style.

Incidentally, lestyn is a Welsh lad and studied in Cardiff. We spoke to him recently about the show and the joy of coming back home. You can watch that interview HERE.

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL is a Dead Ringer for one of the best shows you’ll see on stage right now. It is powerful and fun and a fitting tribute to the genius of Jim Steinman and Meatloaf. If you can, we suggest you ‘Do Anything‘ for a ticket (But Don’t Do That…), which is nigh on impossible in Cardiff.

If you can go again, then lucky you. We spoke to some members of the audience who are already booked in for a second outing, a third might be difficult, but then again, Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL is at the New Theatre in Cardiff through to Saturday 1st October. Performances are at 7:30pm with 2:30pm matinees on Thursday and Saturday. You can get your tickets HERE – I wouldn’t hold your breath though, the SOLD OUT sign is flashing on all remaining performances, best to check for returns.

It then roars back into South Wales at the Swansea Arena from Tuesday 6th to Thursday 15th December. For more details head over to their site HERE.