Queen: It's A Kinda Magic
Regent on Broadway
Wednesday, April 14
Reviewed by Damian Thorne
Who actually are Queen in 2021? After years without a frontman, the band finally came out of the wilderness back in 2012 with Adam Lambert taking lead vocals. I'm greeted in the Regent foyer by my friend Cherie's young son, wearing his Queen with Adam Lambert concert T-shirt. Oliver is as excited as I've seen him and it strikes me that he is about to see a version of the classic band, before the line-up change.
Having braved MIQ, with The Wiggles and the cast of The Lion King, we have in front of us a new incarnation of the It's A Kinda Magic show. This is their third lap around New Zealand and it's all change with South African Dominic Warren in charge, and there are times during tonight's show I could have closed my eyes and imagined Mercury himself on stage.
There were also times when my eyes were open, and I saw four men mimicking Queen to the best of their ability. The difference between a tribute act and an act that mimics the original is that these guys are in character and are introduced as Freddie, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. Complete with cheesy wigs and replica costumes they are playing roles, not just paying tribute. There are some lows - Warren's microphone mix gets lost among the noise and at times we have to rely on knowing the lyrics as there's no way we can make them out.
Warren's call in the second number for us to treat the Regent like a stadium has everybody standing. It's a bit of an own goal as it alienates some of the older demographic I'm surrounded by who may not be able to stand for long periods.
