**** 4 Stars
“A Show That Truly Rocks!“
It’s hard to believe that acclaimed rock musical, We Will Rock You is approaching its 25th anniversary since its debut in London’s West End at the Dominion Theatre in May 2002 with music by the iconic band Queen and book by Ben Elton the show would run for 12 years before finally closing in 2014. There have been several productions since including tours and a West End revival.
The show has been released for local and amdram companies to perform and right now it feels like every single local Scottish company have managed to get their hands on the rights. Now Edinburgh based The Bohemians bring their production of the show to the hallowed ground of the capital cities Festival Theatre and my word this is a show that truly rocks!
Set 300 years into the future The musical tells the story of a renegade group known as the Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought and culture in a vaguely Orwellian society. Earth is now the iplanet that evil Khashoggi (a wickedly evil performance from Max Mitchell) and Killer Queen (the utterly faultless Rosie Sugrue) seek to control the iplanet by banning all music. Can Galileo (an inventive take from Colin Sutherland) with the help of on, off and on-again lover Scaramouche (a blistering performance from Rebecca Driver) tap into the power of the rock gods to save both themselves and the world from such evil? You soon find out in a show which is packed with Queen hits and delivered by a company who ooze passion for performing.
Ben Eltons writing is aft clunking in a show that becomes more a tapestry of set pieces with which to hang the story on, but it works brilliantly especially by the Bohs who harness the comedy and power of the music with in it.
Performances are uniformly excellent with Sutherland leading the company in style his Galileo is the perfect blend of geek meets naivety, and he has the rock vocals down to a tee. The same is true of Drever’s Scaramouche as well as Sugrue’s awesome vocal powers as Killer Queen. Special mention must go to Ryan Livingstone as “Brit” my word does he look every inch like he has just walked out of Aerosmith and straight on to the Festival Theatre Stage clad in a leather Kilt his vocals and style are pitch perfect for this show.
Director Malcy J Burnett has delivered well considering the onstage company totals nearly 70! Performers that’s some achievement given the show features around 18 actual named parts, but he makes the most of the expansive space of the Festival Theatre to ensure they all get there moment to shine. Speaking of shining Choreographer Fiona Burns has delivered the impossible with this huge company who deliver her routines with true style and polish. Musical director Finlay Turnbull has delivered a triumphant job; he and his fabulous seven strong onstage band are the driving force of this show and keep an eye out for Cal Gardner on drums living his best life!
This we will rock you only has a couple of niggles one is the Transitions between scenes which needs to be sped up as the audience are left for lingering moments in the darkness and these moments to tend to build up and cause the show to drag a little. Production wise the company have used the vast space offered on the Festival Stage to their advantage utilizing a fabulous giant video screen with design by Scott Davidson and Malcy Burnett that gives the show its future feel with ease. Scott Davidson also delivers a west end worthy Lighting design that goes from intimate moments to stadium spectacular with ease. Sam O’Neil’s sound design does work but needs a little more refining in order to ensure mics are going live in time and a better balance between performers and band but once the show beds in it will no doubt tighten naturally.
Mhairi Summers and Elaine Dawson’s costume design is the cherry on this rock explosion of talent! Embracing both rock and matrix dystopian world with ease.
The Bohemians can hold there heads high they have a delivered a We Will Rock You the captures the heart of the original, if they can get those transitions a little more snappy and balance the sound then a fifth star is within there grasp for now head to the Festival Theatre and let this awesomely talented company rock your soul!
The Bohemians present We Will Rock You The Musical runs until Saturday 28th February, for more information and tickets go to: We Will Rock You – Capital Theatres
ScotsGay Arts 