Onstage: Rock of Ages at Aronoff Center

Hey, party people, get on down to the Aronoff Center, where you can get down with some totally rad tunes. I can’t comment on the touring production of Rock of Ages as a theatrical piece because it comes much closer to being a Rock concert: blasting from two decades back and outfitted with leather, sequins, boots, big hair and thrashing guitars. There’s lots of skin and inappropriate language, and it’s a total freaking blast.

What’s especially fun is that Rock of Ages is a tribute to the music of the late 1980s — Foreigner, Journey, Poison, Quarterflash, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi and more — that never takes itself seriously. (More than once a character starts a familiar power ballad, then waits for the audience to complete the lyric.) If you’ve seen Mamma Mia, you know the shtick: Take a tissue-thin plot and fill it with tunes everyone knows at moments that fit the story. It’s great fun and offers multiple opportunities to groan and say, “I can’t believe they’re doing that song.” (A duet between two guys uses “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon with truly comic results.)

Rock of Ages continues at the Aronoff Center downtown through Nov. 7. Go here to read Rick Pender's full review and to get showtimes and ticket details.