It’s Friday night in Subiaco and there is a certain buzz in the air, best described as “an electric feel”. It is drifting in and out focus. I compare it to a melodic hum – almost like a baseline of a song, just out of earshot where I can only hear faint parts of the tune. The closer I meander to the congregation of people the more intense it becomes. I capture more and more of the tune, piecing it together – it’s laughter and enjoyment heavily laced with anticipation. Masses of people – all ages, from all demographics have been called (just like me) to the opening night at one of Perth’s most iconic venues (how fitting really) The Regal Theatre for the regal theatrical event We Will Rock You. We were all in for a treat. So many icons, the venue, the music, the production, the talent the list was endless – it was time to immerse the senses.
The opening scene hits you in the face with a bat of raw energy. They are the Gaga kids performing to ‘Innuendo’. They were intense, like a 5-year old child experiencing a sugary overload for the first time but perfectly in sync with their choreography, marching like a war battalion with the sole mission to entertain.
We were introduced to Galileo (Nicholas Cruse) and Scaramouche (Kelsey Skinner) two exceptional performers, passionate about their art and have the skill to make their performance seem so naturally effortless. They were the starting point of this emotive story, they were just the right two people to carry us along with them on the journey……. Young and powerful!
With every journey there are the antagonists – Killer Queen (Dean Misdale) and Khashoggi (Blake Williams) they play these roles perfectly, eccentric and evil. The depth of characters was surreal as both Misdale and Williams sunk further into their roles. Surrounded by their posse of evil Yuppies and Teen Queens, the crowd jeered more for the protagonists as the natural war of good vs evil unfolded.
As the story developed, we welcomed the resistance – Oz (Holly Denton), Buddy (Luke Hewitt), Brit (Courtney Murphy) and Macca (Janelle Koenig). Four welcomed additions and noted champions of their respected fields, injecting humour and relatability to an already stacked troupe. The allies to our Galileo and Scaramouche were joined with an army of the Bohemians who all would further mould the story and build to the inevitable end clash of right over wrong, fighting for rock n roll.
There we numerous points in the production that stood out for me; the innocent (and not so innocent at times) bond between both Galileo and Scaramouche. It was fun, playful, pure and real – very comparable to a modern-day relationship apart from the fact that they are both amazing singers. The dialogue and stage presences between the two was genuine. Killer Queen and Khashoggi both felt to me the right amount of evil in the sense of their character delivery (combating that pureness) which helped with the emotional seesaw of the performance both had been blessed with a vocal range second to none. Brit and Oz held their own on the stage with progressing the storyline with Buddy and Macca – they made me want to find the hard rock and join the fight, admittedly I can’t sing nowhere near as high as the ridiculous standard these four have set during the performance but I am passionate about the cause.
All up an amazing performance littered with musical puns, quick wit, sharp retorts and a performing cast that any producer would crawl over broken glass to work with. Did I forget to mention that all the music for this amazing sound track is performed LIVE (not recorded) with twenty four Queen tracks performed in total. Super impressive!!
Finally, I have some questions for you? Do you love the music of Queen? Do you love watching amazing passionate first class singers, performers and dancers? Do you want to leave with a show with huge smile on your face? Do you want to break free? Then go grab yourself a ticket to this show before they sell out and they will. It really is guaranteed to blow your mind – I loved it… it’s a kind of magic (if you pardon the pun)!
Regal Theatre, 474 Hay St, Subiaco
Saturday 8th July – 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 9th July – 7.00pm
Wednesday 12th July – 7.00pm
Thursday 13th July – 2.00pm
(Kid friendly matinee including a Q & A with the cast)
Thursday 13th July – 7.00pm
Friday 14th July – 7.30pm
Saturday 15th July – 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Head to ticketek.com.au to grab tickets. Tickets start from $49pp.
Direct link: HERE
