The closest I’ve ever come to writing a theater review is
Alice Cooper’s show at the Auditorium Theatre a few years back. I’m not exactly
a Broadway guy — on- or Off-. But I’ve got to admit I
loved the production of “ROOMS: A Rock Romance,” playing at RAPA’s East End
Theatre as part of the Rochester Fringe Festival.
The show tells the story of two musicians, the perky and
driven Monica P. Miller, who wants nothing more than the big time (she’s played
by Sammi Cohen), and the drunken and often aloof Ian
Wallace, who wants nothing more than to stay in his room (he’s played by
Richard Scooter Rosenthal, who I think should drop the Richard and stick to
Scooter). The story plays out with the push and pull of their disparate
definitions of success, and the stubborn denial of their inevitable love.
Set in the late 1970’s in Scotland and New York City, the
show is full of music, its quirky lyrics keeping a steady pace other shows lose
when they get bogged down in — or stall for time with — dialogue. Interesting
characters, other than the two principles on stage, are painted by the two main
actors. So, for instance, Cohen’s Monica gives life to a girl coming out at her
bat mitzvah, and a mother who loves golf.
The storyline in “Rooms” offers the same frustration as “The
Commitments,” especially for musicians who have come close only to have their
dreams dashed by bad decisions fueled by hubris and pride. The music was ably
handled by a live band off to the side and the stage. The set was essentially
bare, with minimal props so as not to clutter the imagination. The singing was
emotional and dramatic but not at all overwrought. The dip into punk rock —
visually and musically — was a bit topical and hokey. But other than that, it is
a beautiful show.
So I leave you with a quote from Monica: “I’m going to leave
now, with a flourish.”
“ROOMS: A Rock Romance”
has one final show, on Saturday, September 28, 8:30 p.m. at RAPA’s East End
Theatre. Tickets cost $12.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2013.
