REVIEW: We Will Rock You
Bilston Operatic Company marks its 99th year with a production of a jukebox musical inspired by the songs of Queen.
We Will Rock You is now playing at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Apparently, the original premise for the show came way back in 1996 in Venice after a meeting between Hollywood actor Robert De Niro with Queen musicians Brian May and Roger Taylor.
De Niro and his daughter - both fans of Queen - asked if the iconic band had ever thought about producing a musical based around their songs. This was the germ of the idea that eventually led to the creation of We Will Rock You by Ben Elton of Blackadder fame.
Elton’s book for the Queen jukebox musical was panned and ridiculed by critics when the show opened at The Dominion Theatre in London in 2002.
The production initially drew widespread criticism for being camp and over-the-top, with Elton accused of using little more than loose plot threads to connect one Queen song to the next.
However, despite the negative reception given to We Will Rock You by the sharp pens of theatre critics when the show originally premiered, the audiences absolutely loved the music and drama and came to see it in their droves.
Although written two decades ago, the story that We Will Rock You showcases will definitely resonate with modern audiences.
The tale at the heart of the successful musical plays out across a dystopian landscape where the population of iPlanet has been enslaved by a faceless corporation called Globalsoft, people work around the clock, food and fuel are scarce, people live in daily fear, the news feeds a daily diet of visual and audio opium to keep the masses asleep, social media keeps the masses distracted and trapped in cyberspace, live music has been outlawed and musical instruments have been removed from existence.
A small band of rebels - called the Bohemians - defy conformity and they dare to keep alive some of the melodies which include the songs of Queen which speak and celebrate taboo topics such as freedom, free speech, a shared humanity, love and hope.
The rebellious outsiders, led by Galileo and Scaramouche, hunger for liberation from tyranny and oppression. The group bravely embark upon the quest to set the world free from the mire of mental and physical slavery where the masses are addicted to computer generated entertainment that dulls the mind and chains the soul.
The cast in this amateur production by Bilston Operatic Company display genuine love for the source material, and their performances are full of passion. The hard work and hours spent in hot rehearsal rooms during the summer were not wasted as each cast member takes to the stage and attempts to belt out the song and dance numbers with real gusto.
These young performers are to be commended and praised for their efforts.
Connor Welch, as Galileo, has a strong and distinctive voice, while Lara Pugh - who hails from Wolverhampton - makes a striking Scaramouche.
Stacey Lovett is fierce and witty as Killer Queen, and Jon Ranwell is dramatic as Khashoggi.
Despite the energetic and committed performances by the cast, who should all be proud of their achievements, the show suffers from the way the legendary Queen songs - such as I Want to Break Free, Under Pressure, A Kind of Magic, etc - are pruned and altered which saps the energy and flow of the show. The vocal rhythms and intricacies of the source material’s DNA lose shape and form, and in the process the songs transform and morph into something else.
The direction by Tye Harris also hampers the narrative, and some scenes became stagnant or stilted which leaves the performers looking lost and adrift upon the stage.
Adam Partridge’s choreography fails to tap into the zesty lyricism that is inherent in the vast and colourful musical landscape of Queen, and the costume and lighting design also fail to ignite and fire up the imagination.
What should have been a really stirring, fiery and scintillating show becomes a lacklustre experience. The passion, fearlessness, and spirit of Freddie Mercury were sadly missing in this production.
Verdict: ★★
We Will Rock You is now running at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Until Saturday 3rd October 2026
Comments