Remember how much I told you I loved Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles?
Today, I'm thrilled to send a lucky Steve On Broadway reader to see the show. Congratulations to Eleah Burman from New York, New York, who has just won two free tickets to see Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre!
Eligible entries for this SOB Contest needed to subscribe to this blog, follow me on Twitter (and then retweet one of my contest messages) and follow me on Facebook.
Congratulations again, Eleah!
Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. By subscribing to Steve On Broadway, you'll automatically be entered in all future contests!
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. However, in conjunction with SpotCo, two tickets for Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles will be given away to one lucky reader. Labels: Broadway, Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles, The Beatles, The SOB Contest
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
SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties: #14 - The Beatles Love (2007, Love Theatre, Mirage, Las Vegas, NV)
Introduction: Hard as it is to comprehend that we're already 119 months into this "new" millennium, we are fast approaching the end of its first decade. While we have yet to agree on what exactly we should call the '00s, I'll take a cue from the fine folks at The Times of London and the BBC and henceforth refer to them at the Noughties. With that small introduction, I'm pleased to present my list of plays and musicals that wowed me the most during that time. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of shows I've seen over the last ten years, I give you my countdown of my 25 personal favorite shows of the Noughties. What was there not to love about the excellent
The Beatles Love? Talk about a mind-blowing, sensory overload event that more than effectively serves as the ultimate showcase for the catalogue of
The Beatles.
Barely settling down long enough to let you catch your breath, the Fab Four's tunes are magically brought to life, incorporating the themes and emotions behind each one. I was entranced throughout the entire production, but renditions of "Rock And Roll Run," "Help" and "Revolution" certainly epitomize who these four lads from Liverpool were and what they came to represent.
This was by far the best
Cirque du Soleil production I have yet to witness. It's in a class all by itself and serves as the best reason why I wouldn't mind returning to Vegas.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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. I paid my own way for this performance.Labels: Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, Musical, SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties, The Beatles, The Beatles Love
Oh What A Night: Jersey Boys In LondonNearly 45 years after the storied
British Invasion of
The Beatles, which knocked
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons from their pop chart pedestal, a reverse American invasion begins this evening in London as the Tony-winning
Jersey Boys enjoys its first night at the West End's Prince Edward Theatre.
When I saw this jukebox musical shortly after it opened on
Broadway in 2005 (and prior to my ever writing SOB), I was left pretty dry. I thought, "Is that it?!" Don't get me wrong, I loved the music, but thought the show was mediocre at best.
While I could blame it on the fact that
John Lloyd Young (as Valli) was already skipping Friday night performances long before his Tony nod, I actually thought his understudy
Michael Longoria was the best thing about the show (Longoria officially replaced Young in the coveted role last November). In my eyes, Young certainly didn't acquit himself when upon receiving the 2006 Tony for Best Actor in a Musical, he didn't even bother to mention Valli.
Another Tony issue that didn't help in how I still perceive the show is that it won Best Musical. My view is that your show shouldn't be eligible for the big prize if it can't even be nominated for "Best Original Score."
Most importantly, I found the story to be less than satisfying. And while I'm no prude, the show was unusually crass and unexpectedly vulgar for its 50s motif.
So how will British critics respond? More importantly, will the
West End Whingers be applauding? I hope to have answers to at least the first question in my critics' capsule tomorrow.
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:Longoria To Formally Assume Lead In Jersey Boys (November 10, 2007)
Longoria Back To The Peak As Valli (October 20, 2006)
The Curse Of The Understudy (October 2, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote...for Best Musical (May 31, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Jersey Boys, John Lloyd Young, Jukebox Musical, London, Michael Longoria, Musical, Opening Night, The Beatles, Transfer
Leaving Las VegasAlthough it may have seemed like I was in Las Vegas all last week, I was actually safely ensconced in my own bed back home a week ago Wednesday evening.
Fortunately, I didn't suffer any altercations
this visit, but what's with all the lazy people on escalators and moving sidewalks, or for that matter all those using
scooters when they really don't need to? I was practically run over a couple times!
I'm someone who enjoys walking at a brisk, if not rigorous, pace. Seems like no matter where I turned, lethargic and hopelessly slow people were in my way. I practically had to slug my way through just to walk beyond a snail's pace.
But I digress.
I wanted to share the best top shows I've
ever seen in Las Vegas, and fortunately for those of you who may be traveling there, each of them is still playing for your maximum enjoyment and pleasure.
You should note that my short list does
not include any singing or stand-up acts or magicians.
Nor does my list include any Broadway shows, past or present. For the most part -- the surprisingly lackluster
Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular notwithstanding -- given Vegas' propensity for cutting shows down to 90 minutes or so, I'd rather spend my bucks to see the real deal on the Great White Way. (It should be noted here that
according to Variety,
Phantom and
Monty Python's Spamalot are bucking a
recent trend by doing great business along Vegas' strip.)
I'd much rather see shows I can't see anywhere else -- in other words, a true splashy, glitzy Vegas spectacle. And yes, with these shows being tantamount to a royal flush, I would agree with
San Jose Mercury News Karen D'Souza that in most cases, Sin City trumps the aces currently showing on Broadway (hat tip to
Man In Chair!).
So here's my top three:
1 - The Beatles Love - Love Theatre,
Mirage
**** (out of ****)In the excellent, mind-blowing
The Beatles Love, I found that all you need is love. Providing the ultimate in sensory overload, this wild ride transports to another time and place. As an exquisite showcase for the catalogue of
The Beatles, the Fab Four's classic tunes are brought to life in a most magical way by
Cirque du Soleil.
2 - O - "O" Theatre,
Bellagio
**** (out of ****)O,
Franco Dragone's revolutionary, jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring Cirque du Soleil spectacle was on my
personal top five list of all shows I saw during the 2000-01 Theatrical Season. With performers scampering across the stage one moment and high-divers plunging into the very same space the next, this show makes a theme park water ride seem dull and boring.
O is still playing at one of Vegas' most prestigious hotels.
3 - KÀ - The KÀ Theatre,
MGM Grand
Sure,
Wicked talks a good game about defying gravity, but with its continually evolving stage, the performers in this Asian-tinged spectacle called
KÀ really do. Yes, it's another Cirque du Soleil show, but it's the first to tell a story. When I say it revolves around a pair of twins as they face the opposing forces of good and evil, I mean that quite literally. While the storyline could be stronger,
KÀ remains awesome to behold.
Since three of Cirque du Soleil's five current Vegas shows reign supreme on my top three list -- and yes, I've seen
many other non-Cirque shows in Vegas, and no, don't bother seeing the other two -- it's worth noting that the
troupe is already working on an Elvis-themed show along the lines of
The Beatles Love that will make its debut at the all-new MGM Mirage
City Center in late 2009. The new spectacle will essentially recreate the experience of seeing The King perform. If any organization can pull it off, it's Cirque du Soleil.
Viva, Las Vegas, indeed.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for KÀ tickets.Click here for O tickets.Click here for The Beatles Love tickets.Related Stories:Mystère (The SOB Review) (September 13, 2007)
Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular (The SOB Review) (September 12, 2007)
The Beatles Love (The SOB Review) (September 11, 2007)
Becoming SOL (September 10, 2007)
Which British Hits Will Be Broadway-Bound? (September 20, 2006)
Critics: True Spectacle for the Senses and Beatles' Fans (July 1, 2006)
The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil Opens in Vegas Tonight (June 30, 2006)
Broadway's Gamble on Vegas No Sure Bet (June 6, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2000-01 (May 23, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Cirque du Soleil, Elvis Presley, KA, Las Vegas, Monty Python's Spamalot, O, Phantom The Las Vegas Spectacular, The Beatles
The Beatles Love (The SOB Review) - Love Theatre, Mirage, Las Vegas, NV**** (out of ****)Last night, on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary, I found myself seeking out some inner peace. In the excellent, mind-blowing
The Beatles Love, I found that all you need is love.
Finding myself overcome with a sensory overload I haven't experienced since visiting Nepal eleven years ago, this wild ride transports to another time and place with the most frenetic pacing I've seen since the first 20 minutes or so of
Baz Luhrmann's "
Moulin Rouge!" extravaganza. But just like that exhilarating silver screen opening, this exquisite showcase for the catalogue of
The Beatles ultimately settles down, finally enabling you to catch your breath, even if for a moment.
Classic tunes from The Beatles are brought to life in a most magical way, incorporating the themes and emotions behind each one, whether it's encapsulating the melancholy of "Eleanor Rigby" or the psychadelic sparkle of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." Since I'm a Beatlesmaniac, I was entranced throughout the entire production, but renditions of "Rock And Roll Run," "Help" and "Revolution" certainly epitomize who these four lads from Liverpool were and what they came to represent.
By far the best
Cirque du Soleil production I have yet to witness -- and I've now seen four of their five Vegas shows with the fifth coming tonight --
The Beatles Love even manages to blow my previous favorite
O out of the water. Nobody does beautiful spectacle
anywhere quite the way Cirque du Soleil does (Disney, why
aren't you paying attention??).
Credit
Guy Laliberté and Dominic Champagne for creating this truly magical mystery tour, along with Jean Rabasse (set design), Yves Aucoin (lighting design), Philippe Guilottet (costumer design), Jonathan Deans (sound design, including speakers within each seat) and Francis Laporte (a projection design that incorporated John, Paul, George and Ringo). It would serve Broadway choreographers to take a look or two at Dave St. Pierre's stunning work.
While "Viva Las Vegas" may have been Elvis' ode to Sin City, it's the Fab Four (and the creative team behind
The Beatles Love) who are breathing exciting new life into Vegas. As the show closed with "All You Need Is Love," I found myself wishing for just a little more love. Perhaps I've finally found my reason for returning to Las Vegas.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:Becoming SOL (September 10, 2007)
Critics: True Spectacle for the Senses and Beatles' Fans (July 1, 2006)
The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil Opens in Vegas Tonight (June 30, 2006)
Labels: Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, Musical, Special Theatrical Event, Spectacle, The Beatles, The Beatles Love, The SOB Review
Becoming SOLI've often said, "If I never go back to Las Vegas, it's too soon."
However, for me, it's best to never say never, especially since I do public relations in the travel industry where my fellow Americans have made this city the top domestic destination... by
choice.
Alas, Monday is my day of reckoning when I'll once again be traveling to Vegas for work, as opposed to play. I don't gamble, so I don't really have to worry much about my luck. That is, unless I get punched in the head like I did the last time I was there in a completely unprovoked attack directly outside one of the
Strip's top hotels.
Since most of my trip will be spent working, the fanciful idea of being a high roller won't be entertained. However, I do plan on
being entertained by taking in three of Vegas' top shows:
The Beatles Love,
Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, and
Mystère. Soon thereafter, you can expect to get a full rundown of each show.
And lest I forget, expect to see two additional reviews in this space over the next week: the Off-Broadway world premiere of
100 Saints You Should Know and Disney's
The Little Mermaid during its second-to-last tryout performance in Denver.
This is Steve On Las Vegas, er, Broadway (SOB).
Labels: 100 Saints You Should Know, Broadway, Las Vegas, Love, Musical, Mystere, Off-Broadway, Phantom The Las Vegas Spectacular, Play, The Beatles, The Little Mermaid
Critics: True Spectacle for the Senses and Beatles' FansLast night marked the official opening of
The Beatles LOVE, Las Vegas' most-anticipated stage extravaganza of the year (unless you're counting the retooled, dramatically altered versions of
Hairspray or
Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular).
Proving that this was not just any
mere world premiere event, even Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the surviving members of the all-time über-supergroup, along with wives of John Lennon and George Harrison, were on-hand as
The Beatles LOVE met the critics who converged on Vegas from around the world.
With director Dominic Champagne at the helm,
The Beatles LOVE is currently scheduled to play for the next ten years at The Mirage. And it looks like overall, the 90-minute spectacle has some
LOVEly legs.
Among the most muted critiques I've found was
Variety's Phil Gallo, who sees the spectacle as one that will ultimately be of more interest to The Beatles' fanbase (which is still quite considerable) than to fans of Cirque du Soleil. Gallo notes "
LOVE is an uncommon Cirque show: slow without plodding, graceful yet never breathtaking, comforting in its marriage of movement and song. Its saving grace is the imaginatively assembled score of oft-altered Beatles recordings....It delivers the goods in the manner of the best Vegas shows: The senses are overloaded, spirits are high, and there's an urgency to spread the word. That is, if you're a Beatles fan."
Decidedly more upbeat is the
Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones, stating, "One craves more messiness, more heart and above all more social and political context. But taken as a whole (music and all)
LOVE is a remarkable achievement. Much of it is thrilling and brilliantly inventive."
Even more enthusiastic is
Richard Corliss of Time who notes, "
LOVE cannot reach the ecstatic kinetic heights of
Ka, Cirque's martial arts show, or
O, its water ballet. But it does no disservice to the new production to say that it's a Beatles show every bit as much as a Cirque show. The music still enthralls; the visuals ornament it beguilingly. Champagne has come near to achieving the impossible: create a new nostalgia."
A clearly smitten
Charles Spencer of London's Telegraph enthuses, "Everything that was bold and beautiful, fresh and funny, sad and just plain silly about the Beatles comes together in this ravishing and almost indecently spectacular show....But for those of us who grew up with the Beatles -- and the first record I ever bought was 'She Loves You,' aged eight, in 1963 -- this latest piece from Cirque du Soleil is also overpoweringly moving. For it achieves the apparently impossible, allowing you to hear the Beatles with fresh ears."
For The Mirage, which had previously counted on the talents of old-school Siegfried and Roy to attract audiences to its famous property on the Vegas Strip, it looks as though it's not just an apparition: they've really struck gold with its new $150 million production.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil Opens in Vegas Tonight (June 30, 2006)
Labels: Critics' Capsule, Las Vegas, Love, The Beatles
The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil Opens in Vegas TonightFor anyone who's ever been to Las Vegas, it's clear that the one sure-fire way to enjoy box office gold is to involve the renowned Cirque du Soleil. So with solid shows like
O,
Mystère,
Ka and even the very risqué
Zumanity still commanding Sin City's entertainment scene, Cirque du Soleil is about to unveil what promises to be its biggest spectacle yet:
The Beatles LOVE. This highly-anticipated production opens tonight at The Mirage.
Marking the first time the Beatles' music has ever been officially sanctioned for a stage show -- unless you count Yoko Ono's ill-fated
Lennon on Broadway earlier this year --
The Beatles LOVE "celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles through their timeless, original recordings. Drawn from the poetry of the lyrics, the show explores the content of the songs as interpreted by innovative performances from a cast of 60 international artists....A unique soundscape of The Beatles music has been created for
LOVE using the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios. The panoramic visual and surround sound in the custom-built theatre at The Mirage will envelop the audience who will experience The Beatles as never before."
Tonight's opening itself will be a spectacle, too. Surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will be on hand, as will the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison. With the unbeatable combination of the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil, we'll see whether the critics engage in a
LOVE-fest in their reviews.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Labels: Las Vegas, Love, Opening Night, The Beatles
