Sitting in Manchester’s grandiose Opera House listening to a runner-up from ITV1’s Superstar sing Another One Bites The Dust while a middle-aged woman at the front belts every word back, is one of the stranger Tuesday evenings I’ve spent.
The love child of cruise ship cabaret and pirate pantomime, Bohemian Rhapsody – The Hits of Queen, is a rollicking two hours through the hits of the iconic band, performed by a variety of singers, a live rock band and backing dancers.
Nathan James, a finalist from the aforementioned ITV1 talent show, is the star of the evening.
The blonde bombshell with the rugby player’s physique certainly does have a mesmerising voice, belting through octaves and scales I didn’t know existed.
However, while the star could steal the show when his tall frame made an appearance, he wasn’t around as much as perhaps expected to make an unforgettable impact… but the teasing element of ‘will he/won’t he be singing now’ did keep the audience on tenterhooks.
The accompanying singers were more than adequate co-stars, deserving of the ‘star’ status in their own right, as I’m sure many in the crowd would agree.
It was no problem for the female singers to take on the mantle of Freddie Mercury and give their best renditions of classic songs with quirky girl power interpretation: Killer Queen being an early highlight.
While the vocal performances remained on the money throughout, the costumes were often strange sartorial choices.
Beginning the show dressed like pirates, and ending dressed in feather-collared white cloaks and dresses gave the performance an almost seedy vibe, perhaps aided by the winks and overtly sexual flourishes from the females.
A look of ‘I haven’t felt like this since ’63…’ seemed to glaze over some elderly gents now ecstatic that eager wives had dragged them out of the armchair.
Blazing through Fat Bottomed Girls, the guitarists, bassist and drummer rocked out aboard their steel stage, frequently bouncing down the stairs along with the singers to belt out a Brian May solo or two.
The dancers jiggled, slithered and writhed between singers, musicians and stage – culminating in nothing short of a male striptease for I Want to Break Free.
However, it was all in good humour, just passable taste and to the delight of a positively encapsulated audience.
As Nathan rightly pointed out when addressing the crowd directly before a powerful final flourish beginning with Bohemian Rhapsody: “Do you all love Queen…? Good! It wouldn’t because this wouldn’t be as much fun if you didn’t!”
The show was well-produced, well-choreographed and belted out with infectious enthusiasm by all singers, which couldn’t help but please a faithful Queen fan.
Those looking for a slick, mirrored performance of Queen in their pomp may have to look elsewhere as Bohemian Rhapsody – The Hits of Queen gives its own interpretation, but it’s one that will leave you with a smile on your face, and, more importantly, singing ‘I’m just a poor boy from a poor family…” all the way home.
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