WE WILL ROCK YOU' 'Rhapsody' roars to life

Cathay Pacific, a sponsor of the production, is selling three-day, two-night packages for the Hong Kong performances that start at Bt17,200.

The music of British rock group Queen continues to hold sway among younger listeners, and touring tribute acts and re-creations of their concerts give them a taste of the band's power before it broke up following the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury.

Now, English writer Ben Elton's stage production "We Will Rock You" - a collaboration with Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor - is playing in Singapore before heading to Hong Kong.

The show is a "Bohemian Rhapsody" of 26 Queen hits, including that one, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Another One Bites the Dust" and "We Are the Champions".

Living in Ga Ga Land

Launched in London's West End in 2002, it had critics moaning but audiences cheering. It's become the Dominion Theatre's longest-running musical.

The touring version has been around the world, from Russia to Canada to South Korea, as well as Singapore and Hong Kong, though Bangkok hasn't yet been added to the itinerary.

Director Ross Girven says the production was put together in South Africa with an eye to maintaining the original's high standards everywhere it travels.

The story, set in 2350, has rebellious youth Galileo Figaro standing up against Globalsoft Corp and the ruler of Ga Ga Land, the Killer Queen, who feed the citizens a diet of synthesised pop.

Elton's tongue-in-cheek script has viewers laughing out loud and the audio and video technology has them marvelling.

Australian Miguel Ayesa plays Figaro, a role he calls challenging.

"I have to prepare for a long time to get the right rock sound in my voice and perform eight times a week," he says. "It requires good preparation physically and mentally."

New Zealand's Annie Crummer plays the Killer Queen, and says she gets a buzz from the audience at every show.

XTRA

Mercury rising

>> "We Will Rock You" is at Singapore's Esplanade Theatres by the Bay until April 27, then moves to the Lyric Theatre at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from May 18 to June 22.

>> Cathay Pacific, a sponsor of the production, is selling three-day, two-night packages for the Hong Kong performances that start at Bt17,200.

>> Visit the show's website, www.Lunchbox-Productions.com.