WE WILL ROCK YOU
Sun, 2 Sept 2007, 11:59 amjeffhansen33 posts in thread
WE WILL ROCK YOU
Sun, 2 Sept 2007, 11:59 amKwinana Arts Centre 1/9/07
The time is the future. Live music has been banned. Globalsoft Computers generate all authorised music and dance steps to go with them....
Actually, go here for the synopsis..
http://www.theatre.asn.au/billboard_bulletins/we_will_rock_you_opens_this_week_end
No need for me to go through all that.
A disclaimer before I start - My brother Scott is in the show.
Firstly, it was a very enjoyable evening of escapism and a "Best of Queen" soundtrack.
The band were excellent, and considering they worked from a Piano/Vocal score, with no instrument scoring, a very creditable performance.
Congrats to the production team for what was a well put together show. A huge cast like that, multi venue performances - it must be a nightmare.
Chorus were excellent. It was great to see the chorus members as individual characters, which they are able to carry throught the performance. I wonder what Russell Baxters reaction was when he saw his Madonna costume? Also liked Monique Ashby as Charlotte 'Friggin' Church, and Cail Bennetts Cliff Richard - "Don't worry about Cliff. He's indestructible".
Great work from the chorus, both dramatically and vocally.
A show like this stands or falls on the strength of it's leads.
Jason Arrow as Gallileo was fantastic - great voice and could have carried the show on his own.
Ali Hill showed off her vocal talent as Meat - a much different character from when I last saw her as Sandy in Grease.
Scott Hansen as Pop was channeling Neil from 'The Young Ones' all night. A fun role which the audience appreciated.
Sky Ogier as Scaramouche ia a great actor, has a strong voice, but did struggle with her upper register and was not always on key.
I felt the other leads struggled vocally, and this did detract from an otherwise enjoyable evening.
One more thing - MICROPHONES MICROPHONES MICROPHONES!!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!
Mics not working, interference, actors having to use handhelds because their mics failed during the perfomance,
It really detracted from the whole show. It must be soul destroying to put in all that work, and have it go up in smoke because of technical hitches.
All in all, fifteen dollars well spent (and no booking agency fee!!)
It's on next weekend in Mandurah.
Great Show
Tue, 4 Sept 2007, 01:02 pmWent along to see the show with a couple of friends that have seen the professional show and we all loved it. We were blown away by the actors characters. All of them. The leads were fantastic. My friends that had seen the professional show said that they preferred this portrayal and they felt the connection between the characters that they didn't feel in the professional show. Well done to you all including the smaller roles who carried off their very few lines with interesting characters. The voices throughout the performance were fantastic. Jason Arrow (Galileo) is a STAR in the making. He was amazing, he can act, sing and apparently he can also dance, not that he danced in this show. Sky Ogier (Scaramouche) is obviously an amazing talent, her acting and her singing. She has fantastic character in her voice. No sweet little church choir for her, a great rock voice with all the guts. While I'm on the subject I didn't hear any struggling in the high notes or off key (re: review above, what you heard could have been due to the mics going on and off, Boo the mics). Galelio and Scaramouche delivered a very believable connection. Ali Hill (Meat) gave me goose bumps when she sang No One But You. Shem Le Scelle (Britney) fantastic performance and great character. Obviously very comfortable on stage and great connection with Meat, plus his energy, WOW! Pop (Scott Hansen) was very funny with lines delivered with great comic timing. (re: review above, I didn't see Neil from the young ones, I saw what I will term as a guru hippy)Gary Atkinson (Kashoggi) made the role his own. Strong characterization, expression and depth of character. (loved the hair) Carole Dhu (Killer Queen) Again a strong portrayal who commanded the stage and had a believable connection with Kashoggi. All the leads were perfectly cast. The lighting was well done for a small venue. The band were fantastic. Well done to Russell Jay, a difficult job made to look easy. Last but not least the Chorus, loved the dancing and the enthusiasm, Applause, Applause, Applause. Well done to all involved. We are going to see it again in Mandurah this weekend. I'm sure it will be a great show again if not better on the big stage.
Jasper