DEAD JOHN (Rock 'n Roll Until We Die)

What I liked

The score was a lot of fun (would have liked more songs)
Some of the characterizations were standouts:
- the drummer as a stoner was a delight. (and truly consistent throughout)
- lead singer as an egomaniac was fun (though could’ve used more than one level beyond argumentative/bitchy)
- Returning bandmate as a paranoid slueth -great (again could have really been amped up some… especially because she shows up so late in the story)
- The newscaster, was a hysterical running bit. Wanted more.
- The total “non-sequiter” of jazz dance class choreo had us all in stitches. Literally screaming wiht laughter each time it happened. So funny to be hearing rock, but watching choreo right out of Dance Fever with Denny Terrio in the 80s.

What I didn't like

-Whenever guitar music played it was often too hot and often made it difficult to hear what was being said OR sung (particularly when there were several people singing). I couldn’t make out fully 1/3 of the lyrics.
- Also because the guitars were playing in the same frequencies as some of the voices in the cast, there were times it was a little “muddy”.
- Unfortunately, some of the cast’s diction and enunciation caused us to lose lyrics and dialog at various points. In this small a venue we should have heard every word.
- After the first two deaths which were GREAT, I really wanted to see more deaths in the same fun, campy way. The third death in the music studio was a bit disappointing. And the drummer’s rig just didn’t work for me. Great concepts, but I was craving it more “in my face” and practical. The first two were real/fun/campy and the second two we had to watch videos that weren’t entirely clear.
Honestly – I wanted more deaths over all. If, in the end it was “I don’t want to die” I felt like it needed more death and more than just a “murder board” done by a former band-mate. It needed more danger/immediacy. As is, it feels passive.
-Some scenes made their point, but then kept going (over-stayed their welcome). Would have liked a couple of songs to Climax and then BLACK OUT! As it was we were applauding scene changes that blacked out (and the scene changes could have used some underscoring)

My overall impression

A fun and funny rock and roll adventure that needed additional charcater and plot development. All the pieces are there, they’re not quite fully realized.