WE WILL ROCK YOU

Kwinana 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.