Today sees the final performance of Ventnor Theatre Group’s hugely successful, We Will Rock You.
If you haven’t been to see the show yet, I’d urge you to give up a couple of hours of sunshine this afternoon and get down to the Winter Gardens for the 2.30pm start.
There are so many people to praise in this wonderful production, but it’s got to be said first of all, that Sunny Brown’s Scaramouch is incredible.
Who’d have thought this shy, quiet girl was capable of standing up on stage and delivering songs with such gusto. Her voice is stunning, with a stage presence to match.
Ollie Dulcie, singer-song-writer-comedian and now, actor, played the role of Britney Spears with great ease. He’s a real natural on stage, appearing totally comfortable and able to project his voice so well, that you know if the mics lost power, you’d still be able to hear him from the back of the hall.
I’m not really a fan of Ben Elton’s other work, but in We Will Rock You, he managed to make me (and the audience) laugh many times and, as has been said about the show before, was able to weave the songs into the story, as though they were written for the musical rather than the other way round.
Jamie Buckley played Galilleo Figaro brilliantly and Blue Brown provided perfect support for Britney as Meatloaf. Her solo No-one But You was beautifully sung.
But let’s not forget Jesse Rann. The poor girl has suffered with a throat infection all week, but she still managed to give the impression that the part of Killer Queen had been created just for her. Her husky voice was perfect and she played the role so easily, it’s scary.
Several rounds of applause should also go to the band who, between the seven of them, supported the singers incredibly well. Praise to Val Hayward for producing the show, Pete Back and Jamie Fothergill for sound and lighting, Steph Crosby and Adi Volney for makeup, Sue Golding for Costumes, the excellent Ann Turner for scenery painting, Charlie Horrill for choreography and the stage crew, Nathan Mellow, Richard Cutler, Penny Worley and John Worley.
Knowing that the cast had only SIX weeks to pull the whole thing together makes it even more spectacular.
Finally a standing ovation for Jeanie Brown, Director of the show and Chris Brown, stage manager. They did it last year with Les Mis, and have done it once again with We Will Rock You.
The Ventnor Winter Gardens proves itself time and time again a perfect venue for this type of production, we sat at the very back, but were able to see the entire show and the sound was excellent.
