Queen tribute act find their groove
Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic, Regent on Broadway, Wednesday, April 14, 8pm. Reviewed by Jimmy Ellingham.
Freddie Mercury left us in 1991, but the music of Queen lives on through Adam Lambert and a host of tribute bands.
Dominicwarren as Freddie in the Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic show must surely be one of the best.
Warren says he has a range of about four octaves. Freddie probably had double that, but Warren’s vocal dexterity as the tour opened its New Zealand tour was incredible.
A two-hour show packed with all the hits, fast and slow, low and high, is challenging enough, without having to reproduce Freddie’s showmanship, all done in trademark skin-tight clothing.
Warren, from South Africa, and the rest of the performers and crew pulled it off in Palmerston North.
Beginning with A Kind of Magic and Radio Ga Ga warmed up the audience, most of whom were ready for a dance and singalong.
Warren made everyone stand up and told the audience to treat the show like a stadium concert.
Wembley in 1986 the Regent on Broadway isn’t, and it perhaps took a few songs for those controlling the sound to raise the vocals above the electric guitar.
In a fast-paced first half Fat Bottomed Girls was a crowd-pleaser, while Don’t Stop Me Now didn’t seem to get the same love it does from some crowds.
‘‘Where are all the crazy people?’’ Warren asked before Crazy Little Thing Called Love. This reviewer reckons they were the ones still sitting in their chairs rather than being on the feet, enjoying the 1979 hit.
In the second half Warren’s best performance, vocally and in character, had to be Iwant to Break Free. Cross-dressing, and of course carrying the feather duster, Warren guided his heels into the audience to say hello.
By the time We are the Champions rolled round, Warren’s voice must surely have been on its last limbs, but he returned for a strong three-song encore finishing, unsurprisingly, with Bohemian Rhapsody.
Specialmention here too for the band singing even the difficult opera section themselves.
Along with Warren, they all pulled off a strong tribute act wellworth seeing.