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Memory Lane in ears and eyes
Let It Be
The New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
****
ASIDE from The Complete Works of Shakespeare and a gigantic Steven King
novel, the thickest book on my bookcase is The Beatles Song Book.
Testament indeed to the impressive output of tunes written by the fab
four from their beginnings in The Cavern Club to their final performance
in 1969 on top the Apple building. Some 40
years on, the enduring appeal has hardly faded. Easy pickings, it would
seem, for producers to make tidy profits on the back of a pile of
universally popular songs. A number of stage plays have
explored the relationship between John, Paul, George and Ringo. Some
have offered insights into their fascinating and colourful world. This
production offers none of those things. It doesn’t try, to be fair. Let it Be is essentially a
tribute band concert. It may well be the best tribute band concert you
will ever see -immaculately staged, pitch perfect vocals, excellent
musicians and a perfect sound mix - but there is no getting away from
the fact that it’s a concert. No back story, no interweaving scenes -
just a sound alike band playing good songs, in succession, very well. As a piece of theatre, it’s
basic to say the least. As a concert, assuming you like The Beatles,
it’s hugely entertaining. Technically, its employs every
bell and whistle in the book. Huge, 60’s style TV’s show flickering
footage of old adverts, news clips and popular programmes of the decade.
Psychedelic images are projected and live cameras show band members in
close up. Even the audience get to be ‘on stage’ as a roving camera
projects random audience members on to the backdrop. Quite cool if the
random audience members resemble Brad Pit or Angelina Jolie. Less cool
if it’s an unsuspecting 50 year old looking awkward and wanting the
ground to open up. There lies my issue with this
kind of ‘ show’ in a theatre. There is something a little odd about a
band playing some of the catchiest, on your feet songs ever written to a
crowd of people sitting in rows eating Minstrels. Yes, they are asked to
stand up and clap along but it’s all a bit clumsy and, for anyone over
5ft 6, somewhat cramped. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good gig with the
rest of them, but in a hall, with a pint and on my feet. Musically, its almost perfect.
It’s doubtful the Beatles themselves could have achieved this kind of
sound quality with the p.a. systems of their day. It’s a joy, then, to
hear these songs sound so pure and harmonized. The band members,
themselves, alternate. From a main company of 12, five are featured for
each performance. The five on this particular night were accomplished
and tight as a drum. Each of them achieving the nuances of their Beatle
beautifully. Not look-alikes as such, but more than a passable
representation. From the jingly jangly numbers
of the early 60s, through the flower power genius of Sergeant Pepper
and the rockier edge of Abbey Road the story is well told, both
musically and visually. An avalanche of animated strawberries
accompanying Strawberry Fields Forever is a sight to behold and
may well have made some of the audience question what they have been
smoking. By the end, there is little
doubt what the audience feel. Shouts for more keep coming. As arms sway
to Hey Jude and middle aged audience ladies form strong (but
wrong) backing groups all around me, it is clear they are being royally
entertained. It’s simple. If you like The
Beatles , you will love this. If you want to be challenged, opt for
Ibsen. To 22-03-14. Tom Roberts
And with a ticket to ride**** IT’S a strange experience
watching this sparkling tribute show to the Beatles and their iconic
music. The Fab Four used to appear in
front of thousands of screaming teenagers all over the world, but here
the audience consists mainly of mums and dads, grandfathers and
grandmas, with memories. And when they are asked to get
on their feet for the first time to join the band in Twist and Shout,
the majority do so, but with no great speed! This is not a story about the
Beatles, although plenty of old films of the Liverpool lads getting huge
receptions, particularly in America during the height of Beatlemania,
are flashed on to four TV screens spread across the front of the
auditorium. What the audience get is four
young men in black wigs playing guitars, drums and sometimes a piano as
they go through hit-after-hit from the Beatles rock ‘n’ roll era. Twelve musicians share the
roles, and on opening night the lads were superb, opening on a set
representing Liverpool’s Cavern Club and later returning to the stage in
the colourful Sgt Pepper costumes, then, towards the end of the show,
the wigs get longer and the style of music changes. But how the customers loved
favourites like Eleanor Rigby, Ticket to Ride, Strawberry Fields, She
Loves You, and the big finish with Let It Be and Hey Jude.
Easy to see why the real Beatles were so idolised. To 22-03-14 Paul Marston
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