Maple Leaf Panties

    I've been struggling with what to call the event I attended this evening for several days. Calling a play is not quite right, and Rogers and Hammerstein it ain't. I suppose a "Rock Theatrical" as the CD says is best. Few musical events have the energy to get the audience stomping and clapping with the music. So why am I writing about a theatrical you may ask? I agree it's a departure from my usual tech-line, or maybe not.

    Within the first five minutes of the show, it already had me thinking. This is what I like ... entertainment that gets the mind going. As you may have already guessed We Will Rock You (WWRY) takes heavily from songs that Queen had involvement with in the past sprinkled with generous comedy and local references. In a world where music is syntesised by GlobalSoft; creativity is discouraged, but banned. Even now I am still struggling with the message of the song. The RIAA subtext of controlling music to the point of mind control was unmistakable. What I am unclear about is if there is a message about the internet being a bad thing in itself or just in what it has become in the 300 years of control from GlobalSoft. There is also a very interesting role reversal. The geeks of today remain the outcast Bohemians of the 24th century; but it is the mundanes (or straights as  Leo Laporte would say) that are constantly on the internet. In a world where people live in a Ga Ga virtual world of  pop, Queen's lyrics take on a whole new urgency as Bohemians what for the coming of Rhapsody :

Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality

In short, this performance is part coming of age, part seeking freedom, and just a general good time. All the while it carries meaningful subtext to those who wish to see it. I certainly wouldn't call it a family show but it's definitely worth seeing, if for nothing more than Scaramouche's maple leaf undies. Special props for using real rock and rollers and not canned music for the audio; and my personal thanks to the cast and crew for giving my night that certain kinda magic. So go, enjoy, have fun ... and remember it's left stomp, right stomp, clap ... unless you want to be soaking your ankle like some of us.


Links :
http://www.wewillrockyou.ca