Ever since I saw Queen and Ben Elton’s musical for the first time in London a few years ago, I hoped I could attend it in my own country one day too. This summer it finally happened!
Even though this is a little country, the city of Utrecht is a two hour train trip from me. But the Beatrix Theatre is right outside that station and the last train back waits for Queen fans. For everyone’s convenience, there are big flags and signs and even though the entrance is missing a large golden statue, I thought it looked promising. I’d booked a ticket for Saturday the 4th of September, which was the first night after the official premiere.
But on arrival in the foyer, nothing seemed to feel glamorous and everything was so Dutch. I realised how snobbish this thought was, but went along making a mental list of characteristics of Dutch people anyway. And to make it worse: I was convinced I was probably one of the few people who had already seen it in London several times. But most of all I so hoped they wouldn’t have translated the original songs in our otherwise very nice language. After finding my seat, I ended up talking to my ‘neighbours’ and the atmosphere turned cosy (can you English folk please adopt the word ‘gezellig’?). The couple on my right just liked musicals. The mother and daughter sitting left from me just liked Queen. And looking around again I concluded the audience actually was as diverse as the London crowd. Then the first lines appeared on the curtain on the sound of Queen’s Innuendo and I felt the excitement.
As expected, the story and the jokes are all adjusted to this place and time and the timing of ‘the Dutch team’ is as convincing as the English. I’ll not spoil how they solved the language of the songs-thing (except that it’s done brilliantly!), but – I’m sure to the relief of many – they are kept in English! After the first song, I was convinced: this was going to be great. I was reminded I was in a Dutch audience again quickly though, when I was the only person clapping and singing along. Obviously they all hadn’t been to London indeed. I felt sorry for the marvellous cast and wasn’t going to give up. After the first half I was curious to find out some opinions and besides the obvious relief the music was superb (people left from me), the couple on my right hadn’t expected it would be so funny. And the elderly row behind me remarked how nice it was to see I was enjoying it so much(!).
“It’s a good thing you know how it works and how to keep the beat” the nice lady said and I promised them there would be more to come. By the time the band was set for the song We Will Rock You though, before I even knew it, the whole audience was already standing and we kept jumping and shouting till the very end! The crew deserved it; they did a perfect job. And when I was asked afterwards what I thought of it, compared to the show in the Dominion Theatre, I could only say it had the same energy, it was again even better than expected and just as overwhelming.
I looked at the curtain once more, knowing it probably wouldn’t be the last time I’d see it, and found my train back on ‘pink clouds’. Lots of friends had said I should’ve told them I was going (on my own), but I’ll go with them all, one by one, so I can see it many other times. And I can recommend you do the same. They will rock you too!
Picture: Hanny van Arkel.
One Comment
Cool. Seen the show and the theatre but not at the same time