REVIEW:
Having their production of We Will Rock You squashed by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 didn't deter Bendigo Theatre Company.
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At the start of the year, the company scheduled performances for July.
After almost two years in the making, BTC will open We Will Rock You at the Ulumbarra Theatre.
And the wait is worth it.
Audience members could be forgiven for thinking they have wandered into a rock and roll stadium show when they take their seats in Ulumbarra.
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Some brilliant sets, video and lighting lead by Ian Scott and the production team mean We Will Rock You is a stadium show masquerading as a musical.
Written by Ben Elton and featuring the music of Queen, this production is one that will benefit from the crowds permitted back in theatres following the state government's easing of restrictions.
It is a visual feast coupled with some impressive vocal work from the entire cast.
Taylah Chisholm and Liam Brown led the cast as Scaramouche and Galileo - two young kids who don't fit in in the futuristic iPlanet led by the Globosoft Corporation.
Chisholm and Brown have excellent chemistry, which couples well with the fast paced, pop culture laden dialogue Ben Elton has created.
In a world where people listen to the same computer-generated music and have similar thoughts, the two rebels yearn for something more and flee Globosoft.
In pursuit is the Killer Queen (Jorja Polglase) and her henchman Khashoggi (Daniel Sexton) - two internet-fuelled villains obsessed with a prophecy about musical instruments hidden on the iPlanet.
Polglase and Sexton have a good time embodying their exaggerated characters and it leads to some fun songs and moments.
Working against the villains are the Bohemians, a group of rebels obsessed with ancient rock music led by Conor Cunningham as the old, wise and kooky Buddy Holly and The Crickets. Fellow bohemians Brit (Brady King) and Oz (Alice Bottomley) also an intense and entertaining plot device.
Filling out the cast is a brilliant ensemble. Taking multiple roles as GaGa Kids, Bohemians and iPlanet employees, the supporting group rarely misses a beat.
The last time BTC was on the Ulumbarra stage was for Wicked.
We Will Rock You has been two years well spent by the theatre company.
Never has a community theatre project be so worth waiting for.
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