Professionalism of group delivering rock rhapsodies to great success

Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society presents We Will Rock You
Kenton Theatre
Thursday, November 13

DIRECTED by Mark Hampshire, We Will Rock You can be described as a jukebox musical, based on the songs of British rock band Queen with a book by Ben Elton.

The musical tells the story of a renegade group known as the Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought and culture in a vaguely Orwellian society set against the background of Queen’s iconic hits.

It opened in the West End in 2002 and has been seen since by more than 20 million people in six continents.

Now it is Henley’s turn to have experienced this popular West End show. Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society may well have “amateur” in their name, but this show was professional at every level. Emma-Jane Taylor’s stunning choreography was simply spellbinding in scene after scene, while musical director Jane Southern and her five musicians produced live music worthy of Queen themselves, with absolutely no backing tracks.

These powerful sights and sounds set the pace for an exhilarating performance by a strong cast, featuring the principal characters Galileo, played by Steve Jewell, and Scaramouche, by Natalie Godding. Their burgeoning love story, sudden but dramatic fall-out and then final reunification provided a real human interest story set in this soulless dystopian future.

Mention of supporting characters must include Melissa Wickens as the amazing Killer Queen, who sang, strutted and pouted with frightening menace, Laura Gatland as Os, Richard Falkus Holder as Brit and Saira Falkus Holder as the officious Khashoggi, all of whom delighted the audience.

The Kenton Theatre reported a sell-out on their opening nights, with standing ovations received from an enthusiastic audience who know how to rock, as witnessed by their response to the Bohemian Rhapsody finale.

Wow — what an exciting delivery by HAODS to bring a performance worthy of the West End to Henley.

Terry Grourk