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SEOUL: So, there we were in South Korea, at the Seongnam Arts Centre just outside of Seoul, in the middle of winter, trying to keep out the chill (it was minus 7°C in the day, minus 11 at night).
Having landed that same morning and enduring a long drive to the venue, we couldn't wait to get into the warmth of the theatre for the award winning rock musical, We Will Rock You, written by comedian/writer Ben Elton and featuring the music of Queen. Hopefully, the "Dreamer" packed warm clothes.
The story takes place in a tongue-in-cheek dystopian future where originality and individualism are shunned, and a lone "Dreamer" appears who can fulfil a prophecy that will enable the return of rock n roll.
This is the "touring" edition of the phenomenal London musical (the same one we'll get in Singapore come March 28).
But what's interesting is that it is probably the most "comprehensive" version of the show. It features cast members from the United Kingdom, Australian and South African editions, such as the leads MiG Ayessa (London cast), Annie Crummer (Australia and Japan) and Sivan Raphaely (South Africa).
But lest you think this show is merely a tribute show, think again.
"We Will Rock You is actually the brainchild of the Queen members themselves," said Hazel Feldman, the show's touring producer.
"(Guitarist) Brian May and (drummer) Roger Taylor worked very closely with (British comedian) Ben Elton on the staging, script and musical choices. This is a genuine salute to the enormous talents of this unique band."
And it is the music of Queen that drives the show. Of course, there are differences between the Queen version and what's onstage. Radio Ga Ga, for example, has references to the Internet and cyberspace two concepts that did not exist at the time of the song's original release in 1984.
We, being Queen fans, were won over not just by the music, but by the performance of the music, such that we ended up singing along by the time the show ended we even forgave Crummer for flubbing a line during the show.
And even though Rock Star: INXS contestant MiG Ayessa may have the plump role of playing Galileo, it's really the two female leads played by Crummer and Raphaely Killer Queen and Scaramouche, respectively — who get some of the best bits in the musical.
The ladies tell TODAY more about wardrobe malfunctions and how rock n roll will save the day.
The South African native got her first acting job in 2000 with The JoBurg Follies, by Malcolm Terry – who, incidentally, plays "Pop" in this version of We Will Rock You but said she got her dream role when she played Maureen Johnson in Rent. And then she got her other dream role playing Scaramouche.
"My dad listened to Queen when I was little," she said. "I remember when I heard the show coming I was like, 'If I could just sing Who Wants To Live Forever on stage ' That's why I wanted to do the show that's one of my favourite songs."
How did you land the role of Scaramouche?
I played one of the other characters called Sarah Brightman (in the South African version), and I understudied Scaramouche. And when they were doing this tour, some people weren't available and they offered it to me. I had to audition for the first role but this time they asked me, so of course I had to have a think about it for like two seconds!
Both Scaramouche and Maureen from Rent are pretty left-of-centre characters. Are you like them?
I have aspects of both of them. They are two characters looking to find themselves, and at the end of the day they come out saying, 'This is who I am, take me or leave me'. Scaramouche, I identify with because she's very hopeful, she just wants to find a world where she can be happy in, and she's not willing to compromise. I'm like that if things are happening that I'm not okay with, then I'll be asking, 'What can I do, who can I make contact with to help me sort it out?'
But I'm not as outrageous as Maureen. Although that depends! That's the best thing about being me: I'm able to laugh at myself. Like I'd take something really seriously then the next day go, 'What are you doing? Calm down.'
Do you think We Will Rock You has a message?
This show has a lot of messages. But at the end of the day, it's, 'Have fun, good rock music will save the day'!
ANNIE CRUMMER, KILLER QUEEN (KQ)
Annie is a household name in Australia and New Zealand, where she had several Top 20 hits in the 1980s and 1990s. She has also performed with New Zealand rock group Split Enz and Aussie rockers Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham, and has opened for the likes of Michael Jackson.
"The ultimate highlight was doing a tour with Sting," she said of her 26-year career.
"I was the support act, and he asked me if I would like to sing with him, and not backing vocals, like in a duet with him. So, for the rest of the tour, I would duet with him on Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot."
Are you like your character at all?
I'm not like her at all! It took me a long time to figure out how to be Killer Queen because we're total opposites. She's so full on nasty and dominates everybody. Whereas I'm a lot quieter than most people think, I'm nice and sweet and just do my own thing.
There are a lot of characteristics of KQ that I'd love to have. That happens only when the makeup, the wig, the armour, which is so heavy, come on. You naturally become bad-tempered, because you just cannot be sweet and nice wearing this!
What's your most embarrassing stage moment?
Oh, mucking up a line! That's the ultimate! That must have felt like 10 hours of standstill!
Oh, and you know I'm small-breasted, really. And the designer let's just say he wanted a little more. So, he put in these breast pads. But during Fat Bottomed Girls, it was slowly just creeping out, bit by bit. And everybody onstage started laughing.
So, here's my promise: I will remember my lines and I will always tuck the little ones in.
It seems like Killer Queen has ambiguous sexual tendencies. Does she?
KQ swings both ways. This is what Ben (Elton) told me! He said: 'You see all those Yuppies, you've had them all; and anything you want, they've got to give it to you'. We're so sexed up onstage. But me, Annie boring! Single, boring, old hetero(sexual). But at least I get to have some wild fun onstage.
We Will Rock You runs March 28 to April 27 at the Esplanade Theatre. Tickets are from S$70 to S$150 available at Sistic outlets. - TODAY/ar
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