07-27-2006 – News 24 – Queen musical will rock you

Cape Town – In an age where audiences are hungry for spectacular live entertainment, We Will Rock You feeds the imagination and stimulates the senses.

This is spectacle on speed, a totally visual onslaught that overwhelms the senses.

Following sold out houses in Johannesburg, this award-winning West End musical by Queen and Ben Elton is rocking the Mother City at the Artscape Opera until the beginning of September before hitting Durban.

The futuristic story is set in a world where kids watch the same movies, wear the same fashions and think the same thoughts. It’s a safe, happy gaga world ruled by the Killer Queen. The musical comprises of songs written variously by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and David Bowie.

The music of Queen has found its home in various art forms. One of the first productions to explore the richness of the group’s repertoire was the sensational Queen at the Opera at the Natal Playhouse in the mid 80s, which splintered into a series of concert performances and other versions. This was followed by Queen At The Ballet, transforming the music into dance, and a spate of cabaret shows paying tribute to Queen.

It has always been challenging to visualise and explore the music of Queen. It has an inherent intoxicating nature and complicated edge that draws attention from all age groups, and is not only limited to a specific group of fans.

We Will Rock You not only celebrates the genius of Queen, but also is a poignant journey into the history of pop and rock.

The musical engages on different levels that constantly challenges and captivates. The narrative drive of a journey from imprisonment to freedom is contrasted with familiar lyrics and popular tunes that have become a part of our culture. The familiarity results in a comfort zone where the creators of this futuristic fantasy and legendary celebration go to the extreme.

Show ‘teases’ the audience

An interesting aspect of the show is how it teases the audience. There is a playful interaction between the musical and its audience when fragments of familiar tunes rise out of the action and then suddenly dissolve.

The visual splendour of We Will Rock You is driven to extreme levels with Richard Pacholski’s overpowering lighting design, based on original design by Willie Williams. Its design breaks through the action on the stage and illuminates its spectators, allowing the audience to become part of the spectacle.

The lighting design is amplified by a rich visual design by video directors Mark Fisher and Willie Williams that draws its energy from projected images that enrich the experience.

It is important for a show of this magnitude to have the audience and performers feed off each other. Each number is greeted with enthusiastic applause, and this reaction spills over into the audience resulting in a rewarding theatrical experience.

You can feel the enjoyment of the audience and understand the joy that emanates from the cast during the breathtaking finale.

The nostalgia of the music of Queen and its history shoots through the audience like an electric current. The first beats of a familiar tune is tapped out on armrests and greeted with a welcoming sound of appreciation when well-known memories from hit tunes are transformed into spectacular magic.

You cannot mention the name Queen without paying tribute to the legend of Freddie Mercury, whose performance style instilled a dynamic energy that captivated the world.

It is this mercurial energy that drives the cast of We Will Rock to deliver performances that showcases the best talent South Africa has to offer.

From the moment Francois Lliam and Helen Burger burst into song, belting out ‘I Want To Be Free’, you know that this duo is dynamite. The explosive romantic liaison between their characters Galileo and Scaramouche thread through the narrative, representing young heroes who want to make a difference in world gone crazy.

Lliam and Burger’s passionate performances are impassioned by a sensational Vicky Sampson as the Killer Queen, with Neels Clasen delivering a delightful performance as the comical Khashoggi and Malcolm Terrey enforcing his versatility with an engaging interpretation of Pop.

Murray Todd equally astounds in his delightful interpretation of Britney, partnered by a quirky Talia Kodesh as Oz.

Musical Theatre has evolved into an extraordinary art form; one that embraces the conventions of past productions, and another that celebrates a new breed of theatre. This new mutation is a wondrous creation, spawned off imitation and bred into an exquisite creature that indulges the fantasies of contemporary theatregoers.

Combining elements found in traditional contemporary musicals, rock operas and rock concerts, this fusion of different styles offers a lethal dose of entertainment for any theatregoer.

Add to this a humorous script by British playwright Ben Elton, the magic of Queen, a vibrant cast and an electrifying band, and there’s indeed very little that can stop this express train.

You will understand the magic of Queen and the impact its music has had on generations of fans, when the familiar tune that is We Will Rock You eventually rewards the audience.

We Will Rock You is an ideal opportunity for everyone to indulge in spectacular escapism that offers first-rate entertainment. Make sure to book your seat before it is too late.