DEE SNIDER’S ROCK & ROLL CHRISTMAS TALE by Dee Snider (Starvox Entertainment and John Yonover/Revonoy Productions). At the Winter Garden (189 Yonge). Runs to January 3. $39.95-$99.95. ticketmaster.ca. See Continuing. Rating: NNN
If you came of age in the 1980s watching music videos after school, or if you just prefer Christmas stockings of the fishnet variety, there’s a good chance Dee Snider’s Rock & Roll Christmas Tale will fill you with Yuletide cheer.
Snider, the heavy metal frontman who propelled Twisted Sister to notoriety three decades ago, conceived, wrote and stars in this spectacle about an 80s hair band chasing success in the era of electronic dance music. They try to pull themselves from obscurity by making a blood pact with otherworldly forces, but every rock song they play morphs into a carol. Eventually, of course, they embrace the Christmas spirit and become stars.
Okay, so the storyline is stretched thinner than a spandex suit across Santa’s belly, and many jokes could use a shot of comedic Botox. Still, Snider is a formidable presence with a huge capacity to entertain and win over skeptics. His gravelly rock voice makes him an excellent narrator. For added nostalgia, fellow 80s hitmaker Taylor Dayne plays the rock club manager – and yes, she can still belt out a song.
Based on plot and production values alone, this show offers nothing new, but it does deliver a huge holiday present to the Toronto arts community. Instead of just shipping in an American touring company and unwrapping it on the Winter Garden stage, the production employs tons of local talent. The musicians rock, and Spencer Robson as Ralph the drummer also inspires loads of laughs.
Snider and music arranger Doug Katsaros really pull off turning the old TS hits into amusing Christmas carol mashups. Director Adam John Hunter keeps the pacing brisk, and everything wraps up with a cute little twist.
Despite Snider’s history of pissing off Tipper Gore and the PMRC, the show is family-friendly and reserved by today’s standards. Call it a Christmas miracle, and an entertaining hour and a half of silly, rocking fun.
