We Will Rock You Youth@Part

We Will Rock You - Young @ Part

Presented by

Musical Youth Theatre Stafford

The musical story and script by Ben Elton, with music and lyrics by Queen.

Atmospheric scene setter, with overhead helicopters, searchlights, leading us into majestic audio of the opening number. Massed ranks of Gagas and Mean Queens, synchronised marching performance of Radio Gaga, set a wonderful high tone for what was to follow.

A dystopian world, three hundred years in the future, independent thought is outlawed, everyone is linked in to Globalsoft Corporation’s control of all things muzak.

A group of rebels, The Bohemians are trying to keep themselves alive, in the vain hope a saviour will come breaking them free of the tyranny enforced by Globalsoft.

Galileo - Kenzie Tyler-Reynolds, good performance overall, vocals a little quiet in places. His love interest, Scaramouche - Erin Gibbons, a well-considered thoughtful performance, really growing into her voice.

They were aided and abetted by the Bohemians, all named for Rock and Popstars long since passed. Brit, Oz and Buddy in particular held the stage when performing. Great vocals on I Want it All – Headlong really good choreography, and the finesse of Only The Good Die Young was beautifully played.

How could they overcome when pitted against the overwhelming odds of Killer Queen and Khashoggi and their troops, giving us some powerful performances from Lydia Brough-Chesters and Toby Hassall respectively. The menace in the performance of Another One Bites The Dust was scintillating.

A very well designed and effective set. The Cyberpunk costumes and make-up were superb. Sound and lighting all conspiring to bring the audience to their feet. Slick scene changes.

Director - Sam Simkin, goes from strength to strength, creating a very visually exciting show with his young cast, excellent use of the theatre aisles, building expectation from the opening onwards, the huge micro-chip bench props were a nice nod to the use of AI to make music, good use of levels to show to omnipresence of Globalsoft’s menace.

Musical Director - Laura Foxcroft, had a very fine band of musicians, recreating the iconic sounds and hits of Queen is no mean feat, they absolutely nailed it.

Choreographer - Hannah Pendleton, did an amazing job, managing to get so many cast members drilled to nth degree with seeming ease, I know it is far from easy. Good movement whether collectively or individually throughout, action and reaction pacing the show well.

I know this is the Young@Part version of WWRY, hence my next comment. My only criticism for the whole show was we were left wanting more, more verses, more solo’s, just more!

 

 

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