We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical based on the songs of Queen. With a book by Ben Elton, the musical tells the story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of live music in a distant future where everyone dresses, thinks and acts the same. Musical instruments and composers are forbidden, and rock music is all but unknown.
The show is the eleventh longest-running musical in West End history with the London production having closed in May 2014. A number of international productions have since followed the original, and We Will Rock You has been seen in six of the world's continents.
The production currently touring the UK is doing so in the year that We Will Rock You celebrates its 20th anniversary - which means that the audience can also celebrate a piece of musical theatre where every song in the soundtrack is a sure-fire hit and the cast have the vocals to prove it!
Ian McIntosh (Follies, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical) puts in a brilliant performance as Galileo supported by his leading lady, Scaramouche, played by Elena Skye (Les Miserables, Kinky Boots). The chemistry, punctuated by Skye's deadpan humour, is absolutely spot on and makes for compelling viewing. Michael McKell takes on the role of Cliff - is part I always feel is underused, not least because it could have been written for McKell, such is the quality of the performance.
However, for me, tonight's show was stolen by Jenny O'Leary's stint as Killer Queen. Joining a long list of huge stars who have portrayed the character, including Mazz Murray and Sharon D. Clarke, O'Learly more than held her own, giving a subtly over the top and diva-esque slant to a well loved baddy. Her voice is exceptional and her sheer power meant that the handful of songs she performs were taken to a new level; a statement you don't always get to make when you're talking about the greatest rock band of all time...!
And that's where the out and out praise begins to die down slightly, and I want to prefix this by saying the general 'theme' of the show and its cast and musicians were brilliant. But, for me, the reworking of the show, the slight tweaks to lines and the dropping of some of the moments that made you giggle, just didn't work 100%.
The set is reminiscent of Thriller Live and for a large part of the evening is devoid of props. At times it can be hard to immerse youselves in the story because it's being played out in a large expanse with not much else going on. The aesthetic did, at times, look like you were watching a concert version and part of me wishes the double-decade production had looked back to its origins instead of launching something that strips some of the original elements out.
By no means does this make the piece unwatchable - the couple next to me had never seen We Will Rock You before and had a brilliant evening out. I think its just the purist in me looking back to what came before, but we all know change is hard to embrace!
We Will Rock You runs at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre until 28th May. For more information, or to get your tickets, visit grandtheatre.co.uk.
