Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds

A true phenomenon ever since the original album was released back in 1978, H.G. Wells’ War of The Worlds resonates very deeply with us; the central plot involving the invasion of Earth by Martians, the near-cleansing of the planet’s inhabitants, and the unexpected light at the end of tunnel (whereby the Martians literally catch a cold) is akin to an actual nightmare but with a happy ending. But while the original novel, Orson Welles’s legendary 30s radio broadcast and Spielberg’s recent film version are all highly taut, scary affairs, Jeff Wayne’s musical theatre version cannot help but be a little more easy on the senses. With a new all-star cast that includes credible performances by Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs), Marti Pellow and, best of all, Jason Donovan, plus an orchestra and a band (featuring Chris Spedding and Herbie Flowers amongst others), the story is overseen by virtual actor Liam Neeson, who has admirably taken on the role originally voiced by Richard Burton, succeeding in imparting the right gravitas and tone throughout. The music, despite a few modern tweaks, remains largely as it always was; a creature of 70s progressive rock, but still packing a punch.

Brighton Centre, 17 December 2012

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