Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles (The SOB Review) - Neil Simon Theatre, New York, New York
***1/2 (out of ****)
Move over
Jersey Boys. There's a new kid on your block and it's called
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles.
Just as the
British invasion led by
The Beatles basically ended the reign of the
Four Seasons at the top of the pop charts back in early 1964 -- and we all know who
won that battle -- the invasion of West 52nd Street by the vastly superior
Rain deserves to do the same on Broadway. Too bad it's just a limited run.
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles is performing just two blocks away from the storied
Ed Sullivan Theater, from which the four lads from Liverpool launched their opening salvo in a campaign for American airwave supremacy. But ironically,
Rain is also directly across the street from
Jersey Boys, which, let's be totally honest, has always been much more about the music than its hackneyed storyline.
Unlike that Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2006,
Rain makes no pretense of having a book, and that's in part what makes this so much more satisfying. Instead, it delivers an incredibly solid, straight-forward and absolutely enthralling concert with some of
the Fab Four's greatest hits almost exactly, note-for-note, the way they were originally performed. Yet, the score is packaged as a fascinating history lesson neatly encapsulating the turbulent sixties.
Close your eyes, and you'll likely think you're listening to a recording. But open them up, and you'll see performers who bear more than a passing resemblance to the real deal, particularly
Joey Curatolo as Paul McCartney and
Steve Landes as John Lennon. Possessing practically all of McCartney's mannerisms, looks and even voice, Curatolo nails the most prolific Beatle perfectly. Landes blew my mind in eerily channeling Lennon. (And it isn't lost on me that
Rain takes a rest on December 8, the 40th anniversary of Lennon's murder, which occurred not too far north of the
Neil Simon Theatre.)
If
Rain is not a complete re-creation of The Beatles, it's because try as he admirably might,
Joe Bithorn only gets George Harrison about half the time (which may be partially explained by obvious issues he was having with his ear-piece during the performance I attended).
If you're a regular reader of Steve On Broadway, you'll know that I count myself among the fans of the Four Seasons, but you'll also know that I'm one of millions who think The Beatles are
the greatest band of all time. After
being spellbound by the officially-sanctioned
The Beatles Love in Las Vegas, I profess I was extremely skeptical that any other tribute show could ever compare. But like the rest of The Beatles fans there the night I attended
Rain, I was up on my feet cheering this live music feast, wishing only that it could last a little longer.
While it may be among the unlikeliest of Broadway shows,
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles easily offers one of the most enjoyably entertaining evenings you're likely to experience here, there or everywhere.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: Broadway, Concert, Four Seasons, Jersey Boys, Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles, The Beatles, The Beatles Love
UPDATED: October 5, 2010
In arguably the most unusual fare being offered during Broadway's 2010-11 Theatrical Season, The Beatles tribute band Rain is hoping to reign supreme at Rialto's Neil Simon Theatre box office.
In Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles -- only the second Broadway show ever devoted to the four lads from Liverpool -- the production promises to recreate their every movement note for note through four American musicians: Steve Landes as John Lennon, Joey Curatolo as Paul McCartney, Joe Bithorn as George Harrison and Ralph Castelli as Ringo Starr.
Originally formed in the mid-70s by Mark Lewis as "Reign," this tribute band's members have now been together more than three times longer than the real deal. According to the show's Web site, all of them have performed in the touring production of that earlier Broadway show devoted to the Fab Four: Beatlemania.
The official site describes this concert show as follows:
Together longer than The Beatles themselves, Rain has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary group, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics that The Beatles never got the chance to play live – including the most complex and challenging songs—this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, peace and a little help from your friends!
Personally, I'm old enough to vividly recall when The Beatles were still together, often performing on television's "Ed Sullivan Show." With a catalog of hit after noteworthy hit, they remain my all-time favorite rock group, so it's probably no wonder that I loved every moment of the officially sanctioned The Beatles Love in Las Vegas.
Will Rain precipitate good reviews while reining in the enthusiasm of The Beatles' steadfast fans? We'll find out later this month when the limited run begins previews on October 19 and opens October 26. The show is currently scheduled at the Neil Simon through January 2, 2011. Update: The show announced on October 5 that it would extend one week to January 9, 2011.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: Broadway, Concert, First Word On New Show, Joe Bithorn, Joey Curatolo, Mark Lewis, Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles, Ralph Castelli, Steve Landes, The Beatles
