Queen musical to replace Lord of the Rings: Brian May

Queen lead guitarist Brian May has revealed that a musical based on the rock group's songs will be replacing The Lord of the Rings musical in Toronto.

Maylet the information slipin a commentaryhe wrote to the Ottawa Citizen newspaper criticizing its coverage of the musical, which is set to close in Sept. 3 after a six-month run. Producers of the $28-million show complained that Canadian critics had savaged it and it would be closing early as a result.

In his letter, May says: " a brand new Canadian version of our We Will Rock You is now planned to open next year in the very theatre made available by the departure of The Lord of the Rings."

Mirvish Productions, which backed The Lord of the Rings and owns the Princess of Wales theatre where it plays, would not comment.

But the guitarist says "there will be no crowing" because he caught a show of The Lord of the Ringswhile the band was in Toronto, and branded it " potentially one of the great theatrical events ever."

May said it had its drawbacks, largely the casting and some bad songs, but predicted it would have a healthy revivalon the London stage beginning next June.

May praised the choreography, costumes and special effects ofThe Lord of the Rings, "and the way they dovetail into the action are nothing short of stupendous."

Blamescritics for closure

British producer Kevin Wallace was bitter when he announced the closing of the show last week, saying Canadian critics did not understand the "British sensibility" of the musical.

The show won seven Dora Mavor Moore Awards, including best new musical. The awards are Toronto's equivalent of the Tony Awards.

We Will Rock You has had a string of bad reviews since it opened in London in 2002, but the musical continues to pack in audiences.

Queen hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga Ga and I Want To Break Free have been co-opted into a musical set in 2302 on a planet that has banned rock, and features a hero and heroine on a mission to bring back the spirit of rock 'n' roll.

As for We Will Rock You's Canadian launch, May promised the band would "work with the cream of Canadian talent" and "go in with a healthy respect for all that has gone before, and a firm belief that we will strike the right chord with Toronto."