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Month: September 2022

We Will Rock You

Palace Theatre Manchester is rocking it

Written by Jay Darcy on . Posted in Theatre.

We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical and a “futurist comedy” fashioned around more than 24 of Queen’s biggest hit songs.

The musical tells the story of a globalised future without musical instruments. A handful of rock rebels, the Bohemians, fight against the all-powerful Globalsoft company and its boss, the Killer Queen; they fight for freedom, individuality and the rebirth of the age of rock. Scaramouche and Galileo, two young outsiders, cannot come to terms with the bleak conformist reality. They join the Bohemians and embark on the search to find the unlimited power of freedom, love and Rock!

The apparently love child of Bat Out of Hell (a dystopian future where rebel rockers rise up against the tyrant) and Footloose (a society where dancing is banned), the musical’s history is almost as interesting as its synopsis!

According to Brian May, Queen’s manager, Jim Beach, had spoken with the band about creating a jukebox musical with Queen’s songs since the mid-1990s. Initially, the intent was to create a biographical story of Freddie Mercury.

In 1996, Robert De Niro had a meeting in Venice with May and Roger Taylor. De Niro’s daughter was a big fan of the Queen and the actor asked if the legends of rock had never thought of creating a musical based on their songs. That was the beginning of everything. De Niro’s production company, Tribeca Productions, expressed interest in a Queen musical, but it found the original idea difficult to work with.

In 2000, Ben Elton (The Young Ones, Blackadder, Popcorn) – who The Mancunion interviewed a few years back – was approached to start talks with May and Taylor on the project. He suggested taking the musical down a different path than initially imagined, creating an original story that would capture the spirit of much of their music. He worked closely with May and Taylor to incorporate Queen’s songs into the story. Elton has also stated that he was in part inspired by the computer-controlled dystopia of the 1999 science-fiction film The Matrix. The script was eventually completed midway through 2001.

Since 2002, over 15 million theatregoers in 17 countries have been thrilled by this awe-inspiring production. Although the musical was at first panned by critics, it has become an audience favourite, becoming the longest-running musical at the Dominion Theatre and the eleventh longest-running musical in West End history!

The musical stars Olivier nominee Ian McIntosh in the lead role of Galileo. McIntosh was nominated for an Olivier for starring in the original West End production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – another jukebox musical, which will be coming to the Palace Theatre next month.

McIntosh is joined by TV star Michael McKell (The Bill, Essex Boys, EastEnders, M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team, Blessed, Totally Frank, Doctors, Emmerdale) as Cliff. The Mancunion recently interviewed McKell about his role in the musical.

The musical also sees the return of David-Michael Johnson, who is reprising the role of Brit.

The musical reflects the scale and spectacle that marked Queen’s live performances and earned the band its pinnacle position in rock history. With Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors and “a band without parallel in the theatre” behind the cast, the audience can expect We Will Rock You to rock as fiercely as the best of Queen’s concerts.

I reviewed Queen + Adam Lambert’s The Rhapsody Tour earlier this year, and if this musical is half as spectacular as that, audiences are in for a real treat!

We Will Rock You plays at Palace Theatre Manchester from 5th-10th September – the final stop of its UK tour.

Check out our previous review of We Will Rock You, our review of Queen + Adam Lambert’s The Rhapsody Tour, and our review of (and interview with) Ben Elton.

Michael McKell

We Will Rock You: In conversation with Michael McKell

Written by The Mancunion on . Posted in Theatre.

We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical based on the songs of the legendary band Queen. As the show celebrates its 20th anniversary, I had the chance to speak to Michael Mckell, who has played the character ‘Cliff’ for the past 3 years.

The award-winning actor adds the musical to his impressive repertoire. He came to prominence in the mid-1990s as the character Tony in a series of British television commercials for the Peugeot 106 car, alongside Julie Graham and Annie Dunkley. He was the face of Ancestry in their national campaign 2019.

Mckell is well-known for his soap opera appearances: Doctors, Emmerdale, and a small but memorable role in EastEnders. He is known for dramas such as Murder Investigation Team, Totally Frank, and Blessed. He starred in the British cult film Essex Boys and is even known for his contributions to Hollywood film, acting  alongside Brad Pitt in the Allied. He is no stranger to the stage, performing with the band The Park as well as in the a 90s production of Macbeth.

Mckell spoke passionately about We Will Rock You. He explains: “The show is set in the future when crowds are no longer allowed to see bands live”. Although Ben Elton (who The Mancunion interviewed a few years back) created the musical two decades ago, the plot is perhaps even more relevant to our post-pandemic world. McKell praised Elton for his unique foresight: “He wrote this years ago; he predicted it. He’s even written previously about billionaires making rockets and flying them into space”.

If anybody needs lottery number predictions, it seems Ben Elton is your guy.

Mckell describes his character, Cliff, as “a mix between the cowardly lion and the tin man”. He points again towards Elton’s genius: “I get to be funny because of Ben Elton! He just knows an audience”.

A good script combined with Queen’s music is sure to make a good night. Mckell comments on the translation of rock music to stage: “The show isn’t a traditional musical: it’s sweaty, it’s rock and roll, we have a rock band”. He notes, “It’s extraordinary and gives a great feeling of community”.

Queen have rightfully earned a firm place in music history. Their music is important to many, including Mckell, who was “fortunate enough to have seen Queen perform live”. He explains why their music has such a strong grip decades later: “Their music has become the fabric of this country […] Queen, along with Bowie and Nile Rogers, reinvented the commercial”. He comments, “Their music breaks all the rules”.

Queen has too many hits to name; Mckell notes, “The show isn’t long enough to have all the hits”. But the musical still manages to fit in an impressive 24 songs!

Mckell’s passion for performing was apparent throughout the entire interview; he seemed extremely grateful for his career opportunities, which bring both himself and the audience joy. He explains, “The love from the audience, we get to bask in that as performers; we’re just very fortunate.: Pressure to perform can be intense at the very best of times, but especially when you are living up to the legacy of Queen. Mckell comments, The responsibility is enormous”. But the collaborations of such a talented, and as Mckell describes “extraordinary cast”, leave no worry of disappointment. 

If you aren’t sure We Will Rock You is for you, Mckell’s thoughtful synopsis should convince: “If you want to be well away from any problem, any worry or anxiety and to be taken away by two and a half hours of pure entertainment, come see the greatest rock show there is”.

We Will Rock You plays at Palace Theatre Manchester from 5th-10th September – the final stop of its UK tour.

Check out our previous review of We Will Rock You, our review of Queen + Adam Lambert’s The Rhapsody Tour, and our review of (and interview with) Ben Elton.

Written by Jessica Hamilton.

Note: This article was originally published shortly after the interview but is one of several articles that were lost during a WordPress update.

An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls: In conversation with Liam Brennan

Written by The Mancunion on . Posted in Theatre.

A few weeks back, an inspector called, not to interrogate my morals and lack of social conscience, but rather to talk about the upcoming An Inspector Calls tour.

To clarify, I had the chance to speak to Liam Brennan. The Scottish actor has been involved in the production since 2015 and plays the ominous detective, Inspector Goole.

The play, first published by J.B. Priestley in 1945, reveals much about the nature of humanity. The Birlings are interrupted by the Inspector, who calls investigating the death of Eva Smith. Each member of the aristocratic family is interrogated, and through their actions (or rather, lack of), the family’s callousness is called into question.

The significance of An Inspector Calls has been widely recognised by society, and continues to impress audiences in theatre. The relevance is maintained decades later, so it’s no surprise the text has made the GCSE curriculum. Liam attributes part of the play’s success to the story: “It’s just a great story; the thriller and mystery element is exciting and urges you to work out what’s going on”.

Each character is uniquely revealing, but arguably none more than Inspector Goole. Interpretations of the character have been long debated; the inspector’s ambiguity fascinates audiences.

Liam avoids having an opinion on the character himself: “I try not to think of the labels; there’s just something neutral about him”. He elaborates, “I just try to be relaxed about it and go with the neutrality”.

Some interpret the figure of Goole to be ghost-like, but Liam doesn’t take this into account when performing: “What is good ghost acting? I just come in to sort this family out.”

Joining the cast 6 years ago, Liam is extremely well-versed in the role of Inspector Goole. He describes his portrayal as “pretty consistent, but probably a lot more relaxed now”. Yet, contrary to his calm demeanour, Liam found difficulty in playing a detective: “It was quite hard to learn the lines because I’d be constantly asking questions, and normally you’d get a bit of a queue for your next line”. But this hasn’t put Liam off investigative work; he could even see himself playing other well-known detectives: “I’d like to play Columbo in the future.”

Throughout my chat with Liam, it became clear he deeply understands the character of Inspector Goole in a way not many can. He even struggled to picture himself as any other character: “I suppose realistically I should play Mr Birling, given I’m the same age, and Gerald has more time on stage, but I’d say Eric”. He likes the thrill of interrogating the entire Birling family “but especially Mrs Birling; she’s a tough nut to crack”.

The long and continuous tours of An Inspector Calls would be testing for any actor, but Liam doesn’t seem to mind the travelling. He describes himself as a “gypsy at heart” and looks forward to “seeing places I haven’t been before”.

Inspector Goole will visit many towns and cities across the UK so prepare yourself for an interrogation like no other!

An Inspector Calls begins its UK tour on 9th September and tours until late May 2023. The tour includes a stop at the Lowry (Lyric Theatre) from 10th until 14th January.

Written by Jessica Hamilton.

Note: This article was originally published shortly after the interview but is one of several articles that were lost during a WordPress update.

Identical

Review: Identical

Written by The Mancunion on . Posted in Theatre.

Identical, the brand-new musical based on The Parent Trap, made for a particularly underwhelming night, saved only by the performances of the talented young cast.

The musical is based on Erich Käster’s novel Das doppelte Lottche (The Double Lottie), also known as Lottie and Lisa, in which two twins, separated at birth, reunite years later at a summer camp. After a rocky beginning, they soon become best friends and promptly switch places, fooling their parents by living as one another.

Having previously watched Disney’s hit 1998 film, The Parent Trap, starring Lindsey Lohan, my extremely high expectations for this musical were unfortunately not met. This wasn’t due to Lohan’s absence but rather an underdeveloped plot and script.

The story was implausible, and the sentimentality the show was aiming for lacked true depth. The first half of the musical was especially long. An hour and 20 minutes can seem like an eternity when you spend most of it waiting for something to actually happen. The second half picked up pace but no real obstacles stood in the way of the end resolution, meaning the finale wasn’t nearly as satisfying as it could have been.

The actors did well to perform with such a shallow script. The writing couldn’t capture the full potential of the romantic leads Lisalotte (Emily Tierney) and Johan (James Darch). Instead, two talented performers did their best to act in their two dimensional roles but arguably failed to convince both themselves and the audience.

The main villain, Miss Gerlach (Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson), is the fiancé of Johan. The character was at best confusing. Initially made to be a monster, she turned out to be just vain and disinterested in children. Her engagement to Johan ended without much resistance, and the family were left to live happily ever after.

The musical may have intended the portrayal to be through a child’s point of view, which would explain the development from monstrous and scary to complex and human. But the dismissal of villainy was just as questionable as the character’s accent. The show might have been much more interesting if Miss Gerlach embraced her darker side.

The best performances came from the young cast. The twins, Lisa and Lottie, were played by sisters (and real-life twins) Kyla and Nicole Fox – who were both adorable and impressive. Their sisterly bond transferred easily to stage. They received a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience. ‘You’re my sister’ was the catchiest and cutest song of the show. 

A stand-out performance came from Daisy Jeffcoate, who played a small role in the musical but stole each scene she was in. These kid’s talents were wasted on Identical. Any one of them would thrive in a more dynamic children’s musical such as Matilda or School of Rock. Their energy was infectious, and they all deserved more time on stage.

Miss Muthesisus (Louise Gold) was a classic comic relief character. Her catchphrase, “In my village they’d throw you down the well” received consistent laughs from the audience. She was perhaps the most authentic adult in the show; her gentle energy made her perfect to play the housekeeper.

Despite the disappointing story, Identical made for a pleasant evening. The lighting (Johanna Town) and sound design (Paul Gatehouse) were fresh and experimental; they added value to the show. The songs were enjoyable and vocals were consistently good. 

As Identical is a children’s musical, I’m sure any child would get more out of it than I did. But be prepared for a very long viewing.

There’s no word yet on where the musical will be heading next, so keep your eyes on its website to find out if it will be coming to a city near you.

Written by Jessica Hamilton.

Note: This article was originally published shortly after press night but was one of several articles that were lost during a WordPress update.

Glass Menagerie

Step inside the glass walls of the Royal Exchange

Written by Urussa Malik on . Posted in Theatre.

The Glass Menagerie is a poetic and bruising portrayal of a family on the brink of change. Intimate and intense, the memory play explores the complex web of love, loyalty and trauma that bind families together.Siblings, Tom and Amanda, and their mother, Laura, are the characters at the centre of the drama here – a suitor for Laura could secure a chance at another future but at a certain cost.Tennessee Williams is known to secondary-school students for A Streetcar Named Desire – which the Royal Exchange adapted in 2016, starring Maxine Peake; it’s one of the most memorable productions in the theatre’s history. The Glass Menagerie, itself, was staged at the Royal Exchange back in 2008.Streetcar shows the sincere difficulty harboured when families are married into vastly different families. The Glass Menagerie has similar themes, if not seen as more autobiographical of Willliams’ life itself – his own younger sister was a muse for Laura and his own mother for the character of Amanda. It was said that any money he made from the play he put towards his sister’s care, which became increasingly necessary as her illness required round-the-clock care.With a director familiar to the Royal Exchange Theatre, Atri Banjerjee has worked in the role of Associate Director since 2017, with The Glass Menagerie being his directorial debut. He has curated a playlist for the show, with artists such as Frank Ocean, Radiohead and Whitney Houston, to name a few, putting the theatre-goer in the sonic mood to relish Williams in Manchester.With the West End production of The Glass Menagerie, which starred Amy Adams, having just closed – the Royal Exchange is now ready to take on the masterpiece that catapulted Tennessee Williams to fame.The Glass Menagerie runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre from 2nd September until 8th October