Two lads who met through fate at a fete in Liverpool in 1957 who went on to become two of the most famous songwriters of popular music. This show is a walk down memory lane for fans of The Beatles and celebrates the writing talents of Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
Written and directed by Bob Eaton, the brains behind the ‘Lennon’ musical performed at the Everyman Theatre back in the 1980s, the show stars Mark Newnham as John Lennon, Tom Connor as Paul McCartney and four remarkable musicians under the guidance of Musical Director Howard Gray, who back up the leading men. They deserve a special round of applause as they are the icing on top of the cake; Mike Woodvine (guitar), Greg Joy (drums), Adam Keast (bass) and Ben Gladwin (keys) all deserve a special mention for their flawless musical ability and confident stage presence.
Dialogue is kept to a minimum throughout the show, except for the occasional dramatised exchanges between Lennon and McCartney and storytelling by McCartney which highlight the chemistry between the two performers. The stories behind each of the songs is uncovered before a performance of the song, with a few laughs and banter in-between.
The set is minimal and constant throughout the show with all of the instruments on stage helping to portray a combination of the film studios where the Get Back sessions were filmed, to the final iconic Apple rooftop concert performance, with girlfriends coats et al. Christopher McCourt (Set and Costume Designer) has dressed the duo casually in T shirts and waistcoats with no costume changes or special effects, the music is the star of the show.
Backdrop video projections help to set the scene and announce different chapters in the lives of the famous duo quoting revered lyrics from some of their songs and showing Liverpool landmarks. The videos help to cleverly immerse the audience into each moment in time, with the sounds of screams in a stadium growing louder to emphasise the heights of Beatlemania that Lennon and McCartney, alongside George Harrison and Ringo Starr experienced and led to them publicly state that they couldn’t hear what they were playing and could have been playing anything and nobody would have known, thus leading to their decision to stop touring.
Connor’s portrayal of McCartney hits the mark superbly whilst Newnham’s depiction of Lennon took a little more convincing, that said, both performers’ musical competence and range is immaculate. The musical arrangements are tight and the chemistry between the leading actors and the other four musicians is impeccable, the audience were captivated from start to finish.
Audiences are treated to early Beatles hits during the first half of the show whilst the second half takes them into the 1970s. The audience was a mix of ages but mostly those who could remember the 1960s and the nostalgia the production evokes, they were able to lose themselves in personal memories whilst appreciating the music and goosebumps must have been experienced by many as powerful classics such as 'A Day In The Life' and 'Hey Jude' were performed.
This intimate show is a tribute to two exceptional songwriters which Beatles fans will take to their hearts; fans from the older generation will enjoy being taken back in time by Beatles music which will prompt particular memories; for the younger generation the music will register appreciation of the song-writing duo's talents whilst jealously wishing they had been around at those innovative times.
Director Eaton has produced a show which runs for two hours including the interval and runs until 6th April 2024.
Reviewer - Anne Pritchard
on - 20.3.24
on - 20.3.24
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