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Review: We Will Rock You at Birmingham Hippodrome

With an appearance from Brian May and a stellar collection of hits to choose from, this stage production based on Queen has much hype to live up to.

Published

We Will Rock You

Birmingham Hippodrome

With an appearance from Brian May and a stellar collection of hits to choose from, this stage production based on Queen has much hype to live up to.

But while the songs undoubtedly provided the magic, topping the list of frustrations is Ben Elton's ridiculous storyline. It's the future and live music is banned by the Killer Queen.

Cue hero Galileo, played by former Hear'say singer Noel Sullivan, who, with his love interest Scaramouche (Amanda Coutts) sets out to find the music that will save the planet. Convoluted is not a strong enough word.

Large parts of the show are dull, only to be given an injection of life when the next big hit kicks in. For some reason Sullivan adopts an American accent reminiscent of the lion in the 1939 version of the Wizard of Oz.

Queen legend May's electrifying guitar solo of Bohemian Rhapsody last night was a saving grace. Runs until August 13.

Review by David Lumb

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