Hi there people!
I was very fortunate enough to go and see the 'We Will Rock You' musical for the first time last Thursday, September, 8th, 2005, the evening performance. My girlfriend surprised me for my 25th birthday. :D
I have been a huge Queen fan since 1984 and I have always wanted to go and see the show.
After watching the show, I can honestly say that it blew me away. The story, the effects, the humour, the cast and obviously the music. The best thing about it for me though, was the female who played Scaramouche, who is Hannah Jane Fox. I must admit, that I have never heard of her before but her voice was truly amazing (so good that I will be looking out for future albums of her)!!! She was also very funny and the way she delivered her lines was excellent.
The highlight for me was when she sang "Somebody To Love" and she hit the high note at the end. My whole body was covered in goosebumps and it sent a shiver down my spine. I actually became quite choked up. How long has Hannah Jane Fox been part of the musical? It appears she is leaving at the end of October, so will she back and who will be taking her place?
When I got home, I played the CD of the show, which my girlfriend also surprised me with and went straight to 'Somebody To Love'. It was good but I was disappointed. It was nowhere near as good as the version I had just witnessed at the Dominion Theatre and no high note at the end.
The things I would like to know, is that I realise the cast change all the time but is Hannah Jane Fox on the CD as Scaramouche? Also, does Hannah Jane Fox always hit the high note in 'Somebody To Love'? The crowd were excellent as well and I would love to know if anybody else was there on Thursday, September, 8th, 2005 and tell me what they thought and if it was/is as usually good as that or was it just an excellent performance on the night?
I know this is not a 'We Will Rock You' forum but it is Queen related and I would love to know from the people who have been before and if you were there last Thursday, then happy days!!!
I hope I hear from you all soon... Peace out guys and gals!!! 8)
Hannah has been scaramouche since the first night, and I think she's thet only original principal still in the show! So yes, she is on the CD. You're right, she is fantastic, but nothing compared to Sharon D Clarke - the original Killer Queen. She blew my mind when I saw the show 2.5 years ago!
Shanon D. Clarke ROCKS big time. I had the chance to see the musical from a lousy (but cheap) same day bought tickets waaaay on the back of the theater, standing, of course. This was back in summer 2002. It was the night before Party in the Park, which I was very excited about, because I was going to see Brian and Roger perform with the cast but no luck (we all know how it all turned out).
I had the chance to listen to Shanon D. Clarke at the Dominion and then to Mazz Murray (don't remember her exact name) at Hyde Park with the cast. Both on the same Killer Queen role but Shanon was a lot better. I always get goosebumps (like you say... it's the first time I write that word) when I see the Party at the Palace DVD and the heavy part of BoRhap comes along. The "for meeee" part and then the BANG! Tony Vincent makes this cool kick-like move in the stage and a blaze of fire comes out of the ground. Then Shanon D. Clarke comes along and sings the heavy part of the song with a GREAT voice. When she reaches those extra highs at the "leave me to dieee-eee-ee-eee" part... man, that's just great. Cool version of the song and a great singer she is. :)
Wiley
Hannah Jane Fox is very good aswell, but I think I liked the "Meat" girl better. I think it was Kerry Ellis, when she sings No-one but You. Again, much better than in the download of the single. Maybe it has something to do with being there and getting excited with the show because I was disappointed about that version of NOBY. I thought that her vocals sounded A LOT better live than in the recording. More passion, less showing off but hitting those note with great strength and precision.
Wiley
I haven't seen the London WWRY show, but I have seen the Las Vegas version several times, with different singers exercising their vocal cords on Somebody to Love and No One But You. I'm happy to say ALL the vocalists were excellent, some offering slightly different interpretations. And the Las Vegas Killer Queen, Patti Russo, was nothing short of incredible. But for me, the highlight of the show was always the ending, with WWRY, WATC, and BoRhap. The ultimate highlight, of course, was the December 18 show when Brian May showed up and performed the guitar solo on BoRhap and then led the cast in Show Must Go On. An unforgettable night.
Localboy80, it was fabulous.
If you want to read a review of it, go to link in the December 2004 soapbox, just under the picture of Douglas Crawford as Pop. It's Douglas's expression of thanks to Brian for all he has done musically and for the cast of WWRY. VERY moving.