Review: Queen musical will rock you with laughs, powerhouse vocals

Tessa DiTirro
Thu, 09 Jan 2014 04:42:37 +0000
Campus, freddie mercury, palace theatre, queen, review, we will rock you

Brian Justin Crum plays Galileo in ‘We Will Rock You.’ The musical will run at the Palace Theatre from Jan. 7-12.
Credit: Courtesy of Rolanda Copley

“We Will Rock You” is a deceivingly plain title for the clever new musical running in Columbus through Sunday.

Written by Ben Elton and based on the greatest hits of the ‘70s and ‘80s rock sensation Queen, the musical is set in a futuristic society, controlled by the company Globalsoft, where music is prohibited and chronicles the lives of two rebels.

The leading male, Galileo Figaro, has visions of iconic rock bands and songs from our time.

Galileo escapes Globalsoft in an attempt to decipher his visions and make music of his own.

On his journey, he meets a girl whom he names Scaramouche. The two discover other rebels called Bohemians who know more about the “ancient world,” which is actually our present culture.

The cast had the audience in stitches with funny quips about our culture. From Miley Cyrus twerking to Michael Jackson moonwalking, the highlight of this musical was the hilarious one-line references for all ages.

The standout performers were Brian Justin Crum as Galileo and Ruby Lewis as Scaramouche. Crum had a voice that mirrored Queen’s frontman Freddie Mercury.

Lewis graced the stage with a seasoned résumé, tiny frame, mischievous smile and could really sing. Lewis and Crum’s duets were nothing short of entertaining, almost like a vocal competition.

Jacqueline Arnold was another knockout performer who played Killer Queen. Arnold’s powerful body and voice made her a love-to-hate villain.

The only weakness during the performance was a few technical difficulties with the audio. However, it was opening night, and the show utilized extensive audio and visual technologies, which could have been a contributing factor.

Queen’s songs were recognizable and performed with style in true Queen fashion. The live rock band and stimulating visual effects were the icing on the cake for this production.

I would highly recommend “We Will Rock You” whether you love Queen or not. The show is witty and sure to keep the audience laughing, and the vocal talent is something to be heard.

The show is running at the Palace Theatre, located downtown at 34 W. Broad St.

Grade: A-