Heat Rays And Holograms
The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one, they said. No, it’s not the start of my latest science-fiction story instead it’s reference to H. G. Wells’ classic tale, adapted by Jeff Wayne to become a smash-hit musical. And yes, even with a million to one chance The War Of The Worlds Alive On Stage show wowed Cardiff last night. Playing to a packed out CIA Jeff Wayne, his very talented orchestra along with Jason Donovan, Justin Hayward, Rhydian Roberts, Liz McClarnon and very special guest, the eleven foot hologram of Richard Burton, came to our home town and blew us away.
With flamethrowers, fireworks, pyrotechnics, leaves falling from the sky and a thirty-five foot Martian tripod fighting machine we were left enthralled during a two hour audio and visual extravaganza. Yes, that’s right, they brought a giant Martian warrior machine complete with weapons to Cardiff and let it loose on the audience (would anyone on the front row like their eyebrows back? I think I saw ashes going down with HMS Thunder Child). To cap this off we were treated to a hybrid live-action and animation film showing the story in accompaniment to the cast and orchestra’s empowered performance.
It was rather eerie to watch Burton a man who died in 1984 narrate the story to us stopping only to let Justin Hayward sing his parts, but from the performance he gave I can understand why he has been the voice of The Journalist for over thirty years. Likewise, for a man who has been performing and conducting this show for that long Wayne is remarkably sprightly, at times it seemed he was dancing in pleasure rather than conducting as a duty; both of these added enormously to the joy that it gave me to finally see this show.
Why have I wanted to see War of the Worlds for so long? It’s an epic tale masterfully told; from the disbelief that life could ever exist on Mars to the heart-rending Forever Autumn, every moment of this musical is carefully considered. What’s stopped me from seeing it for so many years? The price tag; with tickets starting just below £50 it’s not a cheap night out for that you could buy several copies of the CD. I think for a treat though, or for any dedicated fan the price tag is justifiable. It’s certainly an event that I will remember for a long time. Chances are you’ve missed the tour in Cardiff this year but I recommend that next time the show comes to town you try to see it, you won’t be disappointed. Until then, there’s always the CD.
Info Sport & Leisure Performing Arts
IMAGES: Hannah Sullivan