We Will Rock You is the story of a futuristic society that has wiped out individualism, but not the music of Queen. First produced in 2002, with a book by British writer Ben Elton (The Young Ones, Blackadder), the jukebox musical features many of the band’s classics (We Are the Champions, Somebody To Love, Bohemian Rhapsody) and even some deep cuts. This new Canadian production features a cast of 16 and a five-piece band. We talked to Lethbridge, Alta.’s Kyle Gruninger, who also sings with Vancouver-based rock group Incura, about the show.
Q We Will Rock You opened in Winnipeg before going down to the U.S. Has the reception been different?
A Every single city is so different in reactions, depending on the jokes. The great part is the reaction to the music. That’s what most people are there to see. But when I tell a corny joke or whatever it depends on the audience.
Q Is there one song that gets the biggest reaction?
A The first time any Queen songs start, people have a huge reaction. But we all know that the biggest Queen song in the world is Bohemian Rhapsody. So that one gets the party going.
Q Musical director Stuart Morley wrote a new score for this production, is that right?
A He “re- Queened” it, as he puts it. He rearranged the harmonies in each song. He would go to (Queen guitarist) Brian May and say, “This is what I think the harmony is.” And Brian would be like, “Oh, I don’t know if that’s it.” “Well Brian, that’s what you played on the recording I’ve been listening to.” “Oh. I guess I did.” Because there are so many different versions of things. Stuart was listening to raw takes of Freddy. So we are the first cast to do this show with this score.
Q Do people come expecting a story about Queen, à la the movie Bohemian Rhapsody? Or do they know it’s a futuristic tale with the music of Queen?
A There are a few people who come in knowing exactly what they’re getting into. They know the musical, maybe they’re fans of it, they’ve seen it five or six times. Then there’s a group of people who love Queen music, they just want to see anything
Queen. They have no idea what they’re getting into.
Q Do the shows draw a big cross-section of people?
A That’s my favourite part, looking out and seeing 10-yearold kids with their Queen shirt beside their dad with his 1977 Queen tour T-shirt that barely fits anymore, and they both have their hands in the air, givin’ it. That’s an amazing, amazing feeling every night.
Q Who is your character, and how many songs do you sing?
A My character, Commander Khashoggi, is Killer Queen’s lead henchman and right-hand man. We are trying to stop real music from coming back. We’re trying to stop the Bohemians (a rebel group) from finding the real musical instruments and the dreamer. Throughout, I’m capturing and torturing Bohemians. I sing a duet with Killer Queen, A Kind of Magic, and in the second act I do what is kind of a B-side, Seven Seas of Rhye.
Q And there’s a live band, is that right?
A Yes. They’re part of the show. By the end, the screen is down, and they get to play Tie Your Mother Down as we try to kill Killer Queen. It gets intense.
