A fantastic musical by Ben Elton and Queen.
We Will Rock You incorporates over thirty Queen tracks and is directed by Christopher Renshaw. Choregraphy is by Arlene Phillips and designs are by Willie Williams and Mark Fisher.
We Will Rock You is a financially huge West End event. The music of Queen and stunning visual effects certainly keep you entertained but the storyline is a big disappointment. It is surprising too because Ben Elton professes to be a big fan of Queen. Perhaps he has relied too heavily on the music and not given enough thought to the storyline. The trouble is, no matter how brilliant you think the music of Queen to be, if you go to the theatre, music alone does not tick all the boxes.
Apart from the meticulous recreation of some Queen classics, the most I can say for We Will Rock You is that visually, it is highly impressive with lasers, video visuals and some stunning costumes.
Globalisation is complete - it's Ga Ga World. Many years into the future on a place formerly known as Earth. Across the globe kids all watch the same films, think the same thoughts and wear the same clothes. Unless...
"Unless you're a rebel. Unless you want to Rock."
In Planet Mall rock 'n' roll has been outlawed for centuries and all materials once used to make musical instruments are banned. Computers owned by large companies make the songs and the children just download them. No stone is left unturned in the pursuit of profit - even hits are scheduled years in advance.
In the words of Freddie: "Is this the real life? Is it just fantasy?"
It’s the age of Girl Bands and Boy Bands, of Boy and Girl Bands, of Girl Bands with a couple of boys in them that look like girls, or Andro Bands, groups of software created sexless cyber stars.
All processed and manufactured. "Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality."
Under the surface, a growing resistance is mounting. The Bohemians live down in the lower depths, beneath the shining cities. Rebels that believe there was once a great, golden age when kids formed bands and wrote their own songs. They dream of a day when these lost songs will be heard once again.
They call this day ‘The Rhapsody’.
"Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see."
Legend has it that somewhere on Planet Mall instruments can still be found. Somewhere, the mighty axe of a hairy guitar god lies buried deep in rock placed there during the golden age.
The Bohemians need a hero to locate this axe. A crazy rebel with a solid rock heart will draw the guitar from the stone and play the ancient anthems once again.
"He's just a poor boy from a poor family."
But the Bohemians must find this hero before the Company does. For if the Ga Ga Cops get him first they will surely drag him before the Killer Queen and consign him to oblivion across the Seven Sees Of Rhye. Where is this axe hero? Where is the Hairy One's lost axe? Where is the place of living rock?
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