The Meatloaf Rock Opera, The Orchard, Dartford **

Not even dodgy storylines and even dodgier costumes can stop fans adoring the belting vocals and timeless hits of The Meatloaf Rock Opera, says Liz McMahon

Tribute shows face a similar challenge as film adaptations of classic novels: they must stay true but also pull in the punters. Star of the show, The Dead Ringer from Hell has been described as the “Meatloaf We Will Rock You”. It certainly squats in the same genre. It is a smorgasbord of all things Meatloaf and some things which are decidedly not.

Hollis plays the Meatloaf role and is disconcertingly referred to as Ringer by the cast for the entire performance. Hailing from New York, Hollis has had 20 years in the business and is savvy enough to own the production company funding this show. He has an amazing voice which does Meatloaf justice.

His health, unfortunately, is slightly perplexing. He even admitted that he was not sure whether he most resembled a fat pirate or a member of the Scissor Sisters. At points it did seem as though he may have a hernia; as he knelt on his knees to belt it out, it was touch and go as to whether he was getting up again.



Ringer is supported by The Dead Bettys; three sisters, one of whom, Ginger (Helen Hawthorne), is romantically embroiled with the aforementioned. All three women had a fine set of pipes and knew how to use them. Several duets with Ringer were spine-tingling and hair prickling, especially old favourites like I Will Do Anything for Love.

Their costumes were slightly budget. Ginger’s older sister, CC, looked shockingly like a cross between Linda Barker and Bonnie Ratit. Their choreography was also sadly the wrong kind of Chippendale.

The Wolfpack were Ringer’s pleasantly-talented supporting band. Guitarist Eddie Reid’s 35 years of experience showed and it is not surprising to learn he has shared a stage with the likes of Free and Kris Kristofersen. The music heart-thumped and foot-pumped. The company seem to know their strengths and Reid’s solos were fantastic.

It is fair to say Rock Opera might be a slightly aspirational label. An unkind observer may go as far as calling it Rock panto. The songs were first-rate but the narrative was embarrassing at points. In the first half, the thwarted love story between Ringer and Ginger was just a bit awkward but in the second half it took a surreal turn gratuitously involving a hypnotist and Elvis Presley. Unlike Meatloaf himself, whose performance in The Rocky Horror Picture Show was legendary, the cast found it difficult to oscillate between music and drama.



However tempting it may be to pick holes, it is important to return back to the intention of Ringer and his ensemble. This performance may not be a dramatic masterpiece where the audience truly believe in its pathos. Nevertheless, it is a whole lot of fun. Only a killjoy would be able to deny themselves the pleasure of head bobbing and hand clapping to the magic of You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth and Bat out of Hell.

The audience at The Orchard were truly inspiring. They were diehard Meatloaf fans and even Ringer commented at the end: “I want to party with you guys!” They knew the words, got up and boogied and there were even some potential moshers in the front rows. One particularly dedicated fan had bought a box clearly with the prior knowledge that he would need some space to rock out and that is exactly what he did. His bat moves were mesmerising.

The Meatloaf Rock Opera is a feel-good night of merriment. Think less Carmina Burana and more another kind of Nutcracker.