We Will Rock You (Regent) – theatre review

Two and a half hours of high-octane rock ‘n roll, an ode to Freddie Mercury and Queen, await those who venture in to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre to see the off-the-wall musical comedy We Will Rock You. Written and updated as well as directed by Ben Elton, it is oh so silly, but heaps and heaps of fun … joyful and exuberant.

It is the story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion and live music in a distant future in which instruments are forbidden and rock music is all but unknown. The original West End production opened in May 2002, before it moved to Melbourne the following year, where the design and staging were reinvented, including bringing the band in to view. Now this dystopian satire has been reengineered again to ensure its cultural references account for the technological and social media changes that have taken place.

The cynical Scaramouche undoubtedly has the best lines and Erin Clarke (Heathers) is a revelation in the role. She has magnificent, powerful vocals and a dynamic stage presence. Opposite her is Galileo Figaro (Gareth Keegan – Jersey Boys) as the youngster who has musical riffs reverberating through his brain incessantly. They are a couple of outcasts who often don’t see eye to eye, but are clearly stronger for having found one another. A rocky relationship beckons.

Casey Donovan has a big, big voice and fits comfortably into the role of the megalomaniacal Killer Queen, head of the corporation trying to control the hearts and minds of all youth. Brian Mannix, the lead singer of 1980s band Uncanny X-Men is a real crowd-pleaser as Buddy, who leads a ragtag bunch of libertarians. Twenty-four of Queen’s legendary hits are showcased, including We Are The Champions, Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, Somebody To Love, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Under Pressure, Another One Bites The Dust and We Will Rock You. They lead almost inevitably to the ultimate anthem, Bohemian Rhapsody, which catapulted me to musical nirvana.

The 28 members of the cast in full voice and eight musicians rocking out in concert mode are about as good as it can get. This is a show with impact – bright, colourful, lively, over the top – all built on the mass appeal and the never say die attitude of rock music. Put succinctly, there was a lot of love in the room on opening night at the Regent Theatre, where We Will Rock You is playing until 30th October.

Alex First