Katy Hays, Randy Schmeling and Dieter Bierbrauer

Your enjoyment of Power Balladz comes down to one simple fact: Do you love the slow burning rockers that every pop metal band in the 1980s rode to the top of the charts? If so, you'll have a grand time. If not ... well, probably not so much.

The cabaret-style evening—the creation of Dan Nycklemoe and Michael Todaro—hammers its way through nearly two-dozen of the signature tunes, ranging from ridiculous to the incredibly ridiculous. However, a talented trio of singers and a hot band make this more than karaoke for the formerly teased-hair set.

The first act dives right in, opening with the already awful Night Ranger's even-more-awful "Sister Christian" and moving into the much better Guns 'n' Roses but-still-not-their-best "November Rain." The parade of bad doesn't end there, touching on Journey and Poison on the way to an Ozzy Osbourne/Lita Ford epic.

The second act is better, mainly because it stretches the definition of a "power ballad" to beyond the 1980s confines, including several tunes from the 1970s, including a terrific version of Aerosmith's "Dream On" (with no Adam Lambert-style screeching, I should add).

The humor also gets pushed more through the second half, with a delightfully low-rent "video" of Styx's "Come Sail Away," a touch of overly dramatic Meat Loaf, and an ending that features not one but three Freddy Mercurys running through "We Are the Champions."

Performers Dieter Bierbrauer, Randy Schmeling and Katy Hays have the vocal chops to pull it all off, and also create engaging characters along the way. All of them get their moments to belt (subtlety and power ballads don't go together) and are also more than willing to poke fun at the music along the way.

Peter Rothstein—best known for his work with Theatre Latte Da and definitely not a headbanger (a snatch of Air Supply is included in the medley in "tribute" to him)—keeps the flow and energy coming, even when pushing tunes by Bon Jovi and Heart.

Of course, I'm not really the show's target audience. The fans who were on hand ate up every moment of the show, singing along with their favorite songs and giving the players a standing ovation by the end. So, if Motley Crue's more tender moments are your thing, Power Balladz should provide more than enough fun and memories for you.

Power Balladz runs through June 28 at the Lab Theater, 700 N. 1st St., Minneapolis. Tickets are $30 and $35. For information, call the theater at (612) 333-7977 or visit www.powerballadz.com.

Photo: Studio2

- Ed Huyck

Be sure to check the current schedule for theatre in the Twin Cities area