My Obligatory Queen Appreciation Post: "We Will Rock You"

Many followers of the band Queen, including myself, were ecstatic when the "Bohemian Rhapsody" teaser trailer was first uploaded online.  Some of them, however, were less excited when the actual movie dropped on Nov. 2 of last year.  Fans criticized the film for historical inaccuracies ranging from minor flaws to major distortions.  

There's a reason that the film's story can be criticized like this; "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a biopic based on the life of Freddie Mercury and his band Queen.  The story it presents is distorted fiction that is based on nonfiction.

Sixteen years ago, Queen fans were given a special treat that cannot be criticized for historical accuracy: the jukebox musical "We Will Rock You".  Written by Ben Elton, the show packs 27 Queen songs into two acts and an encore performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" (the song, not the movie).  

I have been a fan of the band Queen as long as I can remember and I adore jukebox musicals.  While I've covered musicals based on movies here and there, I will (attempt to) provide today a short explanation of a musical based on a band that also got a movie.

THE SETTING

"We Will Rock You" is set in a dystopian Earth three hundred years in the future.  The planet of Earth has been renamed the iPlanet and is under control by a corporation known has GlobalSoft.  The planet is populated by Ga Ga Kids who are all very similar, viewing the same films, wearing the same attire, and believing the same things.

GlobalSoft might end up existing if Apple takes over the world, but that's probably not going to happen.  However, I can see a future where we all converge into a very similar window of ideals.  This is not what I would encourage of our society, because variety is part of what makes us human.  It's almost like these Ga Ga Kids have lost their humanity.

THE CHARACTERS

The show's protagonist is a young man named Galileo Figaro, a rebel against the iPlanet's cloud of mainstream conformity.  He hears strange words in his head and seeks to free the planet's inhabitants from their tyrannical ruler.

Scaramouche, the female lead, is Galileo's love interest and a fellow rebel.  Ridiculed by those around her, she also wants to break free from the queen's control.

The tyrannical Killer Queen (named after the song of the same name) is the musical's main antagonist and the leader of GlobalSoft and iPlanet.  Being the main antagonist, she wishes to crush the relentless Bohemians that form alongside Galileo and Scaramouche.

Finally, Commander Khashoggi is the right-hand man for Killer Queen.

THE PLOT

Galileo, a young dreamer, wishes to break free from the conformity of his home world but gets captured by the head of police.  His classmate Scaramouche is another rebel who gets arrested with Galileo after being ridiculed.  

Elsewhere on the planet, the tyrant Killer Queen commands her right-hand man Khashoggi to figure out a prophecy that mentions instruments placed somewhere in the world.

The two protagonists find themselves in a hospital and flee, figuring that society is afraid of them because of their beliefs, while Killer Queen and Khashoggi determine that they have defeated the rebellious Bohemians.  

Galileo and Scaramouche meet the couple Britney and Meat, and Britney believes that a dreamer will make the prophecy come true.  Brit and Meat accuse the duo of espionage before realizing that Galileo is the dreamer.  All end up retreating to the Heartbreak Hotel, but they are soon killed/imprisoned once Khashoggi and his men arrive.

Turns out, our protagonists are still alive and in love with each other.  How lovely!  Galileo later tells her they must journey to the Seven Seas Of Rhye to find the survivors, who were tortured by Khashoggi.

After Killer Queen's premature celebration (with an impressive rendition of "Don't Stop Me Now"), Khashoggi interrupts her with the news that Galileo and Scaramouche are still alive.  Let me just say that the aftermath is quite unpleasant for him.

At the Seven Seas Of Rhye (which is a pub), the bartender explains more details of the prophecy to our heroes as the Bohemians lifelessly take in drinks.  They travel to Wembley Stadium on a motorcycle and Scaramouche plays "We Will Rock You" on an electric guitar to the entire planet, saving everyone.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The musical will soon kick off a tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, running from Sep. 2019 until May 2020 in theaters all around the region.  Tickets are on sale here.

I mentioned in my "School Of Rock" post that I don't have the money to travel to England to catch a show, and that's still true.  However, there is a high school version of the show which has completed two productions.  It ran in Australia.  

Hopefully, North American tours of the show can return shortly, because only professional productions have licensing rights here.  In the meantime, Queen fans and the general public can watch "Bohemian Rhapsody" and/or listen to fifteen albums worth of music.  

Have you seen a production of "We Will Rock You"?  Does my guide do it justice?  Do you appreciate the "Bohemian Rhapsody" film or absolutely despise it?  Feel free to leave a comment below!