We Will Rock You
based on the music of “Queen”
Review by C. Weaver
September 8, 2004 (Opening Night)
The North American premiere of “We Will Rock You” took place last night at Le Théâtre des Arts, inside the Paris
Las Vegas, to a crowd of cheering people. The show has played in London's West End since May 2002. The show got a
standing ovation before the show was over.
If you are looking for a traditional musical, well this is not the place! This is rock & roll, the likes of which you will
never forget. It is a night of fun and laughter with a few of your "Best Friends", the audience members, and the cast
the on stage. Glow sticks were given away for free at last night’s gala opening performance. At first, I thought "When
do we use them?" Well, all throughout the show. I think usually you have to purchase them at the shop.
This musical was not written to replace Freddie Mercury or the other members of Queen. It is based on their music.
The lyrics have been changed to go with the storyline. They have also changed the show to be more in touch with US
audiences.
The show is based on a future where rock & roll creativity has been lost for the masses. GlobalSoft gives the people the
music and everything else they want them to read and hear via computers. It reminds me of some old Sci-Fi
movies/stories. Our hero is in search of the truth...the text (bible or ancient scrolls) or maybe the "Holy Grail." It
reminded me of "Monty Python" films. You have to look past reality as some of Queens' songs say and see what is
really there. They are in search of a rock & roll ancient relic. The Bohemians want to make their own music and find
what was lost. They do not want to listen to what GlobalSoft gives them (a little "1984" Orwellian feel).
GlobalSoft wants "one world - one universe." The free thinkers want to have freedom of choice. They want to do their
own thing...something the flower children wanted, so it is understandable that the sage (librarian) is a "Hippie" played
wonderfully by Doug Crawford. The Bohemians (rebels) as they are called, have heard about rock & roll from the
text. They know the words, now they must find a dreamer (Tony Vincent portrays hero Galileo) to help them "break
free" of GlobalSoft's rule. They know that one day this person will appear and lead them to the past and, ultimately, to
a better future. The various actors who have names of current performers got them from "old" rock 'n roll posters.
They don't know who these people were. This is one of the funniest parts of the show when they all introduce
themselves. I won't spoil it here.
The dialogue is also made up of some of the lyrics from songs by Queen. I felt they all meld together very nicely.
Unlike other catalogue shows, the lyrics are changed to fit the storyline. I think Ben Elton did a great job with this
story. The jokes are hysterical, especially the references to Las Vegas. This is not rocket science here, it is just fun.
Even Ben Elton said the story was corny.
A few lines (these may not be the exact words) from one song I think tell the story best:
"Everything we want we can download from the internet!
All we hear is radio Ga Ga
Video Goo Goo
Internet Ga Ga
All we hear is cyberspace Ga Ga
Marketing Blah Blah
Always something new
GlobalSoft all the world loves you (the corporation that controls the music)"
Ben Elton is well known in the UK for his politically-tinged stand-up comedy and the movie "Maybe Baby," which he
wrote and directed. He also did some television and many people in the US may remember the “Blackadder.”
Some of the songs included in the show are: Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, Somebody To Love, Killer Queen, It's A
Kind of Magic, Under Pressure, One Vision, I Want It All, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Your My Best Friend, Fat
Bottomed Girls, Another One Bites The Dust, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody and more.
They have assembled a world-class band for this production and they definitely "rock".
The cast is made up of some of the greatest young talent around. Douglas Crawford
(Pop) was outstanding. Tony Vincent (Galileo) was very good, as was Aspen Miller
(Scaramouche) who has one great set of pipes. The evil GlobalSoft villains Rich Hebert
(Khashoggi) and Patti Russo (Killer Queen) were a great pair. Ty Talor (Britney) and his
babe/chick Carly Thomas (Ozzy) were funny and the two were great together. Amir
Talai (Puff) had a funny part and he is also a good dancer. The entire cast rocked. Hats
off to the people who selected this amazing group of performers for the show.
Arlene Phillips choreography and staging is good, and enhanced I am sure by the resident choreographer and
production team. The costumes were really creative and interesting too. I know some will not like the use of laser
lights, the special effects and plasma screens, but I thought they worked remarkably well.
“We Will Rock You” is presented by Tribeca Theatrical Productions co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal,
Queen (guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor) and Phil McIntyre Entertainment, in association with Paris
Las Vegas.
I do not have a rating system. I like to tell people what I think and let them make their own decisions. We rocked
till we dropped!
I know there are lots of people who did not like the show, but as they say, “different strokes for different folks!” My
thoughts are, “If you snooze you lose“…so don’t miss this show!
Ticket prices are $80.50, $97.00 and $113.50 (including tax and handling), available at the Paris Box Office or by
calling (702) 946-4567 or (877) ROCK SHOW. The show schedule is as follows:
Monday 9 p.m.
Tuesday 7 p.m.. & 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday 7 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
Thursday DARK
Friday 9 p.m.
Saturday 7 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
Sunday 5 p.m. & 9 p..m.
The show has no intermission and runs around 2 hours.
Photo credits: Joan Marcus
A scene from “We will Rock You,” the smash-hit musical from
Queen and Ben Elton, currently playing at Paris Las Vegas
