Tuesday , July 15 , 2008
Review: WE WILL ROCK YOU
Posted by dance_and_theatre
Jukebox musicals seem like a guarantee for commercial success. Most audiences know the lyrics of all the songs and are eager to see and hear how they’re interpreted differently in dramatic situations.
And in fact, it’s the script that connects these ear-catching tunes altogether that matters more, and Ben Elton’s script, with some inputs by Queen’s two Brian May and Roger Taylor, for “We Will Rock You” is a boom-boom-blast.
Although it may seem a little contrived towards the end, the straightforward story—filled with keywords of rock spirits like style, rebellion, freedom, sex, and love—makes much sense and contains a substantial number of messages, like how socio-political and cultural factors influence us to simply go with the flow, and prevent us from doing what we really want. Plus, Elton’s crisply comic bites, mostly British-style dark humour, poke fun at the current state of music business—sparing no famous icons from Victoria Beckham to Celine Dion.
And since this is a touring production, you may wonder who are performing.
As Gaileo, the misfit-turn-hero who keeps hearing voices and songs in his head, Philippines-born, Australia-bred, and New York-based rock singer MiG Ayesa (whose album is being released here by Universal) is effortless and mesmerizing. He performed this role at West End’s Dominion Theatre for two years, and including this tour, has now done it more than a thousand times, and yet his performance is still adrenaline-stirring. Portraying the ruthless global corporation ruler Killer Queen, Annie Krummer, a music diva in New Zealand, kills the audience mercifully with her amazing range of voice and cartoonish evilness.
The rest of the ensemble comprises mostly South African performers who show high standards in singing, dancing, and acting. The accompanying band, led by Rowan Bakker, is vigorous and passionate, although the playhouse’s acoustics do not support their heart-pounding prowess in some parts. The futuristic set design shows a nifty use of a large LCD screen; yet, overall, the lighting falls a tad short of achieving the atmosphere of a Queen concert, partly because of the venue’s technical limitations.
Since last year, this exact company has performed in Auckland, Johannesburg, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and now they’re concluding their Australasian-Asian tour here. In short, this emotionally uplifting show is one of the best West End musical experiences Bangkokians will ever get—without long-haul flights out of Asia. Evidently, the local promoter, namely International Cultural Promotions, has invested more in this show—despite the same ticket prices—than Scenario did with “Cats”, a production made for tours to rural China and Korea, last November.
You don’t have to be a fan of Queen to fully enjoy this musical—you just need to believe in the power of music and the importance of individuality. And in the end, you may find yourself doing what common theatre etiquettes prevent you from, and, why not, almost every audience is doing that.
Xtra
Bangkokian rhapsody
>> “We Will Rock You” performs daily (except Mondays) at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre (MRT: Thailand Cultural Centre) until Sunday, July 27.
>> Showtimes are 7.30pm, with additional 2.30 pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.
>> Thai translation surtitles of both dialogues and lyrics help non-English speaking audience enjoy it even more.
>> Tickets are 4,000, 3,000, 2,000, and 1,000 baht, bookable at Thaiticketmajor.
>> For more details, WeWillRockYou.QueenOnline.com.
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written by Pawit Mahasarinand
published in Daily Xpress on Tuesday, July 15, 2008
photo by Taweesak Pakdeehoon
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