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Musical inspired by rock group Queen and written by Ben Elton.
The time is the future, in a place that was once called Earth.
Globalisation is complete. Everywhere, the kids watch the same movies,
wear the same fashions and think the same thoughts. It's a safe,
happy, Ga Ga World. "Unless you're a rebel. Unless you want
to Rock" On Planet Mall Rock'n'Roll has been banned for centuries.
All musical instruments are banned. The materials from which instruments
were once made are banned. There is no wood, no steel or gut for
strings, no skin for drums, these things are long forgotten. The
Company Computers generate the tunes and the kids download then.
Nothing is left to chance in the pursuit of profit, hits are scheduled
year's in advance. Dance moves are rigidly imposed. "Is this
the real life? Is it just fantasy?" It is the age of Boy Bands
and Girl Bands. Of Boy and Girl Bands. Of Girl Bands with a couple
of boys in them that look like girls anyway. Or Andro Bands, groups
of software created sexless cyber stars. All processed. All manufactured.
Dancing in the Ether and lulling the kids into a steep that has
lasted for centuries. "Caught in a landslide, no escape from
reality" But resistance is growing. Underneath the gleaming
cities, down in the lower depths live the Bohemians. Rebels believe
that there was once a Golden Age when kids formed their own bands
and wrote their own songs. The Bohemians dream that one day these
lost chores will be heard once more. They call this his day, The
Rhapsody. "Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see"
Legend persists that somewhere on Planet Mall instruments still
exist. Somewhere, the mighty axe of a great and hairy guitar god
lies buried deep in rock. Placed there in the golden age against
a time when it would be needed to inspire the kids anew. The Bohemians
need a hero to find this axe. A crazy rebel with a heart of solid
rock who will draw the guitar from the stone and play the ancient
anthems.
"He's just a poor boy. From a poor family" But the Bohemians
must find this hero before the Company does. For if the Ga Ga Cops
get him first they will surely drag him before the Killer Queen
and consign him to oblivion across the Seven Sees Of Rhye. Where
is this axe hero? Where is the Hairy One's lost axe? Where is the
place of living rock?
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