I Have been lucky enough to have not only witnessed the original Queen line up live but also been involved with helping the fan club and West End launch of the stage musical 'We Will Rock You'. I know all too well the power and longetivity of their songs, the as yet unmatched stage presence and legacy of their talismatic frontman Freddie and most importantly of all the bands particular care and emphasis on LIVE performance.
Indeed i will never forget the way they would just leave the stage during the often mimicked but never equalled, studio enhanced, operatic accapelo segment of Bohemian Rhaspsody, knowing full well that they could never genuinly reproduce it effectively live.
Instead they would use a pre-recorded tape,video screen or glittter ball before returning triumphantly to the stage as the 'live killers' they so ultimately were to rock out to the next power riffed chords of the bit so immortilised in the car 'headbanging' scene in Wayne's World!
Now as The Hit musical has been given permission for much wider distribution and performances (mainly to raise awareness and money for the Freddie Mercury Phoenix trust aids charity and the shooting star childrens hospice)it was the turn of The Epsom players to 'Play the game'.
Full of enthusiasm under the direction of Paul Longhurst these players took to the stage and after a brief innuendo (that's a Queen Song by the way) Radio Ga Ga was first up. Unfortunately one of the ensemble had her arm in a sling and although the whole audience knew what it was building up to, when we finally got there she just laughed off the anthemic hand clapping chorus with a smile so infectious it seemed to relax audience and cast alike.
She was not alone with her misfortune either main star and a guy with obvious talent Peter Wright who had been apparently 'brilliant' in rehearsals had a throat infection and it was obvious from the start that he was in for a long night. But true to Queens tradition 'Show must go on' and the bravery and sheer guts he showed along with his natural talent will know doubt stand him in very good stead for a long and prosperous career ahead.
However tonight another star was to be unleashed on us the 'firecracker' that is Amy Putt tore up the stage with a performance that was worth the admission money alone. Her Avril Lavigne meets Catherine Tate at Goth city park character 'Scaramouche' was a sheer joy to behold and her voice boomed around the theatre like she meant business from the start.
But don't get me wrong the other leads were plenty strong too Lisa Rose-Michaels almost transvestite like Killer 'drag' Queen was a lot of fun as was Mark fallon as her underling manager Khashoggi. James Turnball and Alexis Pulling were suitably paired and tuneful as 'Britney and Meat' and Paul Falconer's Neil from the young ones, Hippy like reincarnation 'Pop'(No doubt Ben Elton's stamp of authority) brought plenty of light comic relief.
The play itself has many a dig at Modern manufactured music and the 'Playstation generation' that created it, with Simon Cowell almost single handedly held responsible for music's fictious death. A fact made more amusing as in the X factor he often uses the ' It was like something out of some god awful amateur dramatic Production' when dismissing someones performance.
Well 'Rock' has the last laugh here and the musicians in the'Pit' are superbly organised and led by musical Director Dennis Hooker as are the dancers by choreographer Claire Izzard.
As the cast bowed for their final encore it was great to see the unity and respect they all had for each other. Indeed the way lead Amy, knowing full well it had been her night gripped (very supportingly) her brave co star Peter's hand and nodded her encouragement was a nice and fitting touch and certainly didn't go unnoticed and he will have his day.
Amateur productions like this fully deserve and need our support and as The Silohette of Freddie rose against the backdrop of Lake Geneva (where he spent the last of his recording days with the band), punching the air you couldnt help but feel his presence in the room.
Altogether now (one hand or two) Boom Boom tish, Boom Boom tish "Buddy you're a boy make a big noise gonna be a big man someday........."
