The Bucher family, whose enterprise and enthusiasm for musical theatre brought the first local production of the gritty show Rent to Christchurch nine ago, have landed another dazzler – and in a venue that is becoming increasingly recognised as a place where live performance thrives.  

The unadorned set up, with assorted seating and a stage of scaffolded platforms, is already sparking before the show starts, thanks to the band getting a head start on the beat, and the cheery informality of front-of-house and bar crew.

“Prepare to have your face melted,” warns the director’s programme note. The heat is mutually generated as the audience laps up a fabulously energetic and colourful cast, inciting them to pump more and more into music and dance. It feels like one big party, with spectacular dress-ups and wall-to-wall pulsing rock.

We are back in eighties L.A, the Sunset Strip and The Bourbon Room in particular. Our elaborately sexy narrator (Kyle Chuen as Lonny) sets the upbeat tone of the storyline, where overstatement and comedy are cheerfully exploited to great effect.

But in the beginning, appropriately, are the dreams. The boy is working as a cleaner while he finds the nerve and music to power him into the rock world; the girl arrives from her small town with only her dreams and a suitcase. Inevitably they meet, go through the turmoil of love undeclared, seemingly betrayed and revived – material for a satisfying range of music.

Chris McRae as Drew covers the territory in great style, matched by a glowing Elly Bucher as Sherrie, whose learning-curve includes work at a girlie outfit, run by melodious and worldly-wise Justice (Kate Taylor). Together the young couple keep the heart of the show pumping along.

Groovy goings on at The Bourbon Room, where Drew is on the end of a broom, are threatened by a determined and powerful developer Hertz (Peter Hewson) and his reluctant son Franz (Brett McPhail). Boss man Dennis (John Bane), epitome of rock entrepreneurship, brings on to the scene the ultimate rocker, Stacee Jaxx, delivered in glorious technicolour by Aaron Boyce, but the takeover threat escalates anyway, in spite of vigorous protests. Eventually Herz has a heart (his son decamps to follow his own dream to be a confectioner) and everyone is happy, including a very enthusiastic audience. 

The band, led by Andy Manning on keyboard, otherwise identified only by first names in keeping with the informality of the night, is given special recognition. Jacob, Tim and Talen on guitars and Jeff on drums are the indefatigable backbone of an exuberant show.  

The contributions of choreographer Jane Leonard, lighting designer Jake Eastwood from Lightsite and costume designer Elly Bucher are hugely successful in sustaining the impact of a highly committed and talented cast – including, of course, a spirited ensemble who step into the supporting roles. There’s more than enough here to enthuse the rocker in all of us. 

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