We Will Rock You, Regent Theatre, Thursday September 15th 2016
"We Will Rock You" was presented at the Regent Theatre , Thursday September 15th 2016
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"We Will Rock You" with music by Queen and a book by Ben Elton is produced by John Frost in association with Queen Theatrical Productions, Phil McIntyre Entertainment and Tribeca Theatrical Productions.
The Regent Theatre is a huge venue and perfectly suited for this musical.
"We Will Rock You" is a "Juke-Box Rock and Roll Pantomime" as it is more than a juke-box musical as it hams up the traditional Christmas pantomime in structure, story line and characters.
At this performance the role of Khasoggi was ably played by the understudy Paul Watson.
The best part of the show was the band - the music and more of the band. The other best part was the performances of Jaz Flowers as Oz and Casey Donovan as the Killer Queen.
I had seen the original Australian production of ""We Will Rock You" and was looking forward to seeing this new 2016 version. Act One was better than the original and sadly Act Two died a death. It seemed as if all of the energy and thought had gone into Act One with the staging, lighting and choreography.
The singing in the first half was better than the original, while the second act petered out. I questioned whether it was the same cast that was in Act One. Act Two needs tightening and the layering of Britney and Oz to counterpoint the Galileo and Scaramouche relationship.
Lighting Design by Willie Williams was good but could have been improved with so many lost opportunities. For example in the finale the audience wanted the iconic image of the under the chin lighting effect. This could have been achieved by torches or side lighting etc. Act Two had very disappointing lighting.
Original Production Design and Video Direction was by Mark Fisher with Willie Williams as Lighting Designer and Video Director were quite effective with lots of pop culture references. Though the David Atkins' version of "Hairspray" used video and projections more effectively.
Choreography by Arlene Phillips was crisp and punchy for "Radio Ga Ga" while "Another One Bites the Dust" was fun and appropriate. The Killer Queen sequence with the fans paid tribute to the musical "Chicago" and to the Busby Berkeley movies.
One young lady displayed the requisite energy for the dance numbers while highlighting how the others appeared to be walking the choreography. She was on stage right in "Radio Ga Ga" and her hip pumping was lively compared to the reserved genteel hip thrusts of the other dancers.
Act Two needs more lighting focus when the guitar is found and then played. Yes it does have a dazzling short lived lighting trick to introduce the lost guitar.but needs a spotlight to really bring out the excitement of the guitar sequence more. The audience were begging for more excitement for this moment. It was addressed in the finale when the guitarist made a centre entrance to rapturous applause.
The jokes and book are stronger in Act One. It is as if there was a different writer for Act Two. This second act dragged and had two significant holes that need to be filled (see resolution below)
The best part was the tribute to the dead rock and roll legends. (Was this "No-One But You"?)
Of course the finale works! Who does not want to hear "Bohemian Rhapsody" - even it is was sang badly?! The audience will join in irrespective.
Casey Donovan was sensational as the Killer Queen with her pantomime style baddie. Her characterisation was well defined - physically and vocally. A pity that other performers did not match her clear definition and exuberance.
Jaz Flower as Oz sang consistently well. She brought out poignancy in her rendition of "No-One But You". Her emotional connection to the song resonated with those sitting near me as they effected by her generously revealing performance.
Sadly the two leads were a disappointment. Gareth Keagan as Galileo was better in Act One. Erin Clare played Scaramouche and her diction had the audience reaching to each to ask "what did she say?" Act Two had them both singing so out of tune it was as if we were watching a karaoke night on a bigger stage. Not good value at about $100 a ticket!
Costumes by Tim Goodchild are fun especially for the Bohemians and the Killer Queen. His costumes for the Ga Ga Kids paid homage to the 1960s and girl bands.
There is a very wishy-washy resolution between the "twankers" and the Bohemians. This is where pantomimes are usually stronger in structure by having a succinct final message.
Ben Elton needs to increase the tension between the "twankers" (Ga Ga Kids and Yuppies) and the "Bohemians". Call the manufactured group the "twankers" as they cannot turn off their artificial digital lives and are self absorbed! The heart of the Bohemians' message is lost a little. They need to emphasise what Rock and Roll taught the Bohemians - respect for self and others opinion and musical taste. Also how Rock and Roll could sharpen the message of being connected with other people and not as disengaged and self absorbed as the "twankers" without losing your individuality.
"We Are The Champions" could be heightened more to show how Rock and Roll taught the Bohemians general respect for other humans. More specifically to respect each other's taste in music, to use technology to assist rather than be dictated by technology and to engage with people.
The concept of streaming music could have been included as the original show was futuristic and this show did not explore the future as much as I had hoped. So many corny sci-fi films would end with "The End......Or is it?" Here we could have another question posed: What will the future for delivering music to the public - telepathic?
Overall this production received a 6/10 while my partner gave it a 4/10.
The Regent Theatre is a huge venue and perfectly suited for this musical.
"We Will Rock You" is a "Juke-Box Rock and Roll Pantomime" as it is more than a juke-box musical as it hams up the traditional Christmas pantomime in structure, story line and characters.
At this performance the role of Khasoggi was ably played by the understudy Paul Watson.
The best part of the show was the band - the music and more of the band. The other best part was the performances of Jaz Flowers as Oz and Casey Donovan as the Killer Queen.
I had seen the original Australian production of ""We Will Rock You" and was looking forward to seeing this new 2016 version. Act One was better than the original and sadly Act Two died a death. It seemed as if all of the energy and thought had gone into Act One with the staging, lighting and choreography.
The singing in the first half was better than the original, while the second act petered out. I questioned whether it was the same cast that was in Act One. Act Two needs tightening and the layering of Britney and Oz to counterpoint the Galileo and Scaramouche relationship.
Lighting Design by Willie Williams was good but could have been improved with so many lost opportunities. For example in the finale the audience wanted the iconic image of the under the chin lighting effect. This could have been achieved by torches or side lighting etc. Act Two had very disappointing lighting.
Original Production Design and Video Direction was by Mark Fisher with Willie Williams as Lighting Designer and Video Director were quite effective with lots of pop culture references. Though the David Atkins' version of "Hairspray" used video and projections more effectively.
Choreography by Arlene Phillips was crisp and punchy for "Radio Ga Ga" while "Another One Bites the Dust" was fun and appropriate. The Killer Queen sequence with the fans paid tribute to the musical "Chicago" and to the Busby Berkeley movies.
One young lady displayed the requisite energy for the dance numbers while highlighting how the others appeared to be walking the choreography. She was on stage right in "Radio Ga Ga" and her hip pumping was lively compared to the reserved genteel hip thrusts of the other dancers.
Act Two needs more lighting focus when the guitar is found and then played. Yes it does have a dazzling short lived lighting trick to introduce the lost guitar.but needs a spotlight to really bring out the excitement of the guitar sequence more. The audience were begging for more excitement for this moment. It was addressed in the finale when the guitarist made a centre entrance to rapturous applause.
The jokes and book are stronger in Act One. It is as if there was a different writer for Act Two. This second act dragged and had two significant holes that need to be filled (see resolution below)
The best part was the tribute to the dead rock and roll legends. (Was this "No-One But You"?)
Of course the finale works! Who does not want to hear "Bohemian Rhapsody" - even it is was sang badly?! The audience will join in irrespective.
Casey Donovan was sensational as the Killer Queen with her pantomime style baddie. Her characterisation was well defined - physically and vocally. A pity that other performers did not match her clear definition and exuberance.
Jaz Flower as Oz sang consistently well. She brought out poignancy in her rendition of "No-One But You". Her emotional connection to the song resonated with those sitting near me as they effected by her generously revealing performance.
Sadly the two leads were a disappointment. Gareth Keagan as Galileo was better in Act One. Erin Clare played Scaramouche and her diction had the audience reaching to each to ask "what did she say?" Act Two had them both singing so out of tune it was as if we were watching a karaoke night on a bigger stage. Not good value at about $100 a ticket!
Costumes by Tim Goodchild are fun especially for the Bohemians and the Killer Queen. His costumes for the Ga Ga Kids paid homage to the 1960s and girl bands.
There is a very wishy-washy resolution between the "twankers" and the Bohemians. This is where pantomimes are usually stronger in structure by having a succinct final message.
Ben Elton needs to increase the tension between the "twankers" (Ga Ga Kids and Yuppies) and the "Bohemians". Call the manufactured group the "twankers" as they cannot turn off their artificial digital lives and are self absorbed! The heart of the Bohemians' message is lost a little. They need to emphasise what Rock and Roll taught the Bohemians - respect for self and others opinion and musical taste. Also how Rock and Roll could sharpen the message of being connected with other people and not as disengaged and self absorbed as the "twankers" without losing your individuality.
"We Are The Champions" could be heightened more to show how Rock and Roll taught the Bohemians general respect for other humans. More specifically to respect each other's taste in music, to use technology to assist rather than be dictated by technology and to engage with people.
The concept of streaming music could have been included as the original show was futuristic and this show did not explore the future as much as I had hoped. So many corny sci-fi films would end with "The End......Or is it?" Here we could have another question posed: What will the future for delivering music to the public - telepathic?
Maybe a brief version of "Safe Me" could have been included for the Bohemians wanting relief from the "twankers" (manufacture music). Or "It's A Beautiful Day" or "Good Company" to bring some resolution between the two groups.
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