REVIEW
We Will Rock You
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
5th to 9th November 2019
We Will Rock You
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
5th to 9th November 2019
There's always been a lot of hype about this show, even before the Award winning Bohemian Rhapsody film came along and wowed the nation. We Will Rock You features the music of one of Britain's most successful and popular bands of all time, Queen. Their music has been played in the homes and the headphones of generations and they are one of the few bands who genuinely appeal to almost every kind of music fan. This was clearly evident, looking at the eclectic and excitable Southend audience that packed into the sold out Cliffs Pavilion last night.
Despite being seen by over 16 million people in 19 countries, yours truly had never seen the show. I'll be honest, I'm not a big fan of juke box musicals and if I hadn't been asked to review, would have easily given it a miss - and what a HUGE mistake that would have been.
We Will Rock You tells the story of a globalised future without musical instruments. A handful of rock rebels, the Bohemians, fight against the all-powerful Globalsoft company and its boss, the Killer Queen; they fight for freedom, individuality and the rebirth of the age of rock. Scaramouche and Galileo, two young outsiders, cannot come to terms with the bleak conformist reality. They join the Bohemians and embark on the search to find the unlimited power of freedom, love and rock.
Yes, the storyline seems like one big convoluted plot to get as many Queen songs into the mix, although a lot of the script certainly rings true with today's Facebooking, Snapchatting, WhatsApping society - there's certainly an underlying message in there; yes, there are the most cheesy segues into the songs, eg; Teacher: "You live in a perfect world, what more could you possibly want?" Galileo (sings): "I want to break free!"........you get the drift, but yes, the cheesiness makes you laugh rather than cringe and the music, both sung and played is off the scale. These performers belt out every number and the music really thumps under the musical direction of Bob Broad, who we fortunately get to see with the rest of the band, on screen at the bows - these guys sound amazing!
Despite being seen by over 16 million people in 19 countries, yours truly had never seen the show. I'll be honest, I'm not a big fan of juke box musicals and if I hadn't been asked to review, would have easily given it a miss - and what a HUGE mistake that would have been.
We Will Rock You tells the story of a globalised future without musical instruments. A handful of rock rebels, the Bohemians, fight against the all-powerful Globalsoft company and its boss, the Killer Queen; they fight for freedom, individuality and the rebirth of the age of rock. Scaramouche and Galileo, two young outsiders, cannot come to terms with the bleak conformist reality. They join the Bohemians and embark on the search to find the unlimited power of freedom, love and rock.
Yes, the storyline seems like one big convoluted plot to get as many Queen songs into the mix, although a lot of the script certainly rings true with today's Facebooking, Snapchatting, WhatsApping society - there's certainly an underlying message in there; yes, there are the most cheesy segues into the songs, eg; Teacher: "You live in a perfect world, what more could you possibly want?" Galileo (sings): "I want to break free!"........you get the drift, but yes, the cheesiness makes you laugh rather than cringe and the music, both sung and played is off the scale. These performers belt out every number and the music really thumps under the musical direction of Bob Broad, who we fortunately get to see with the rest of the band, on screen at the bows - these guys sound amazing!
This musical is loud and unafraid and is driven by a fabulous cast. Ian McIntosh, who studied at Southend's Masters Performing Arts College, takes the leading role of Galileo with aplomb and really shows off his fabulous vocal range throughout. Elena Skye as the feisty, no nonsense Scaramouche, instantly wowed the audience from her first number, Somebody to Love. David Michael Johnson and Amy di Bartolomeo as Brit and Oz also make a great pairing. Jenny O'Leary rocks as the Killer Queen and Adam Strong has a touch of the Tim Curry about him as Khashoggi. Michael McKell, however, practically steals the show with his perfect comedy timing and Mick Jagger intonations as Buddy the Bohemian. His mispronunciations of certain words, amongst other things, had me crying with laughter.
Every member of this cast stands out: music, makeup, choreography and costumes are all fantastic.
This show is loud and the staging is even louder. Queen songs covered include Radio Ga Ga, Killer Queen, Kind of Magic, No One But You (Only the Good Die Young) - beautifully sung by Amy di Bartolomeo, Who Wants to Live Forever and Days of Our Lives (nice and softly sung after the ear-shattering Hammer to Fall). Scene changes are aided by futuristic projections onto back drops which are really effective and a massive shout out has to go to the tech and backstage team who implement this outstanding feat of design.
This show knows exactly what it is and makes no apologies for its corny dialogue. It pays homage to the great Freddie Mercury and Queen and although there are plenty of laughs to be had, thanks to Ben Elton's writing there is also something significantly rather touching and sincere in its bones. I loved it.
A well deserved standing ovation and a superb encore rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody sent the already pumped up Southend audience away buzzing; and with this reviewer feeling that this is probably one juke box musical that definitely won't 'bite the dust' any time soon.
This show is practically sold out but the tour will be returning next June to Southend's Cliffs Pavilion. Grab your tickets now!
Review: Kim Tobin
Tickets: www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Every member of this cast stands out: music, makeup, choreography and costumes are all fantastic.
This show is loud and the staging is even louder. Queen songs covered include Radio Ga Ga, Killer Queen, Kind of Magic, No One But You (Only the Good Die Young) - beautifully sung by Amy di Bartolomeo, Who Wants to Live Forever and Days of Our Lives (nice and softly sung after the ear-shattering Hammer to Fall). Scene changes are aided by futuristic projections onto back drops which are really effective and a massive shout out has to go to the tech and backstage team who implement this outstanding feat of design.
This show knows exactly what it is and makes no apologies for its corny dialogue. It pays homage to the great Freddie Mercury and Queen and although there are plenty of laughs to be had, thanks to Ben Elton's writing there is also something significantly rather touching and sincere in its bones. I loved it.
A well deserved standing ovation and a superb encore rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody sent the already pumped up Southend audience away buzzing; and with this reviewer feeling that this is probably one juke box musical that definitely won't 'bite the dust' any time soon.
This show is practically sold out but the tour will be returning next June to Southend's Cliffs Pavilion. Grab your tickets now!
Review: Kim Tobin
Tickets: www.southendtheatres.org.uk
