"The Cher Show"
Nottingham Theatre Royal
Cher is quoted as saying “All of us invent ourselves. Some of us just have more imagination than others". As history has proven with Cher's amazing career, this is quite true. Just look back at the hair styles and costumes that this woman has presented. People have mentioned Madonna and Tina Turner with re-inventions of their career, but Cher is also a name that must be up there with the best of them.
From the off, let me state that I have been and probably always will be a massive fan of this lady and her music. From the jangly folky style 1960's pop classics like "I Got You Babe" with Sonny Bono through the 1970's "Dark Lady" period and the first venture into disco with her "Hell On Wheels" period - let's not forget that Cher recorded the original version of the Sophie Ellis-Bextor hit "Take Me Home", through the rock chick 1990's of "Walking In Memphis" and "If I Could Turn Back Time", again re-inventing herself as a disco diva in the nineties and noughties with "Believe" and "Strong Enough". And apart from the music changes, there were the incredible outfits for each genre.
She had an incredible movie career with smashes like "Moonstruck", "Mask", "Witches Of Eastwick", "Mermaids", "Come Back To The Five And Dime", as well as her cameo in "Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again", which also spawned an album of Abba covers by this chameleon of music.
It tells of the meteoric, trail-blazing rise to fame; the people who she was influenced by, the men who she battled with who under estimated her, her husbands, Sonny and Greg, as well as her battles against convention to become the powerful, talented and beautiful woman she still is today.
Debbie Kurup, Danielle Steers and Jasmine Jules Andrews, all star as Cher in different sections of her career; portraying her in the 1950s and 60s (nicknamed "Babe"), one for the 1970s (nicknamed "Lady"), and one for the 1980s and 90s (nicknamed "Star"). All three women have amazing voices with such power, but for me Danielle absolutely nailed the voice, both spoken and singing. I could close my eyes and see and hear Cher. A powerhouse trio of energy gave everything they had on stage, and all three at the end actually looked overwhelmed at the rapturous applause and by the standing ovation the whole cast deservedly received.
Lucas Rush plays Sonny Bono. Not only did Lucas look like Sonny, with and without tache, he also sounded like him, so when the duets came around, it was like listening to their recordings.
Sam Ferriday plays Greg Allman, Cher's second husband, as well as Rob Camilletti, Cher's toyboy lover, Phil Spector and John Southall. What the magic of wigs and make up can do for an actor is wonderful, as well as a change in physicality from a good character actor. He is also a perfect choice for Allman with his voice.
Jake Mitchell plays Bob Mackie, Cher's costumier and fashion designer. I don't know much about this particular character but what fun Cher must have had with Mackie in her life. Flamboyant would be the best word to describe him, and if this is a true interpretation of Mackie, then I can only guess that Jake had a ball playing this colourful man.
Tori Scott plays Georgia, Cher's mother, and you can see where Cher inherited her tenacity and glamour from. Tori has a gorgeous voice as well.
The ensemble made sure everything on stage is positioned for the main actors as well as providing everyone with some stunning and energetic choreography. Among the ensemble is a local actor/choreographer from Long Eaton, Sam Holden, who I've had the pleasure of seeing on a local level at The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton, so it's great to see him in such a big touring show as this.
Arlene Phillips Directs this show and brings out the camp, which all helps to make this show the success it is and the fun production we all enjoyed on Tuesday night. Cher, in the show, referencing that she is a gay icon, as well as namechecking Freddie Mercury and Elton John as great British queens. It's paced perfectly with some of the more upbeat numbers being stripped back to create heartfelt ballads. The comedy is also well delivered with throwaway one liners, highlighting Cher's ability for comedy, and also providing light and shade within Cher's, at times troubled life.
Choreographing everything is Oti Mabuse, so you know to expect a fresh, classy and punchy choreographed show from one of my favourite Strictly Come Dancing professionals.
The costumes are all designed by Gabriella Slade. Well, we all know Cher's style over the decades and those changes in fashion are all here and wonderfully recreated by Gabriella. Match with that the wonderful wigs and make up, every image of Cher is like a work of art.
An incredible lighting design which made you feel as if you were at a Cher gig as opposed to a theatre show, but saying that I suppose every show that Cher puts on is a theatrical production. Likewise with the sound, it was loud and punchy, but when we got to the ballads, you could also hear every single syllable and musical note. Perfectly balanced.
There's an incredible 35 songs performed in this epic jukebox musical including "The Shoop Shoop Song", "Believe", "Little Man", "Bang Bang", "All I Ever Need Is You", "I Got You Babe", "I Found Someone", "Strong Enough", "Just Like Jesse James", "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" and among all of these, two of my favourites from her early 70's songs, "Living In A House Divided" and "You Better Sit Down Kid".
Because the subject of the jukebox musical is the artist who sang the songs featured, the songs will have been a reflection of Cher's life, so this is not a case of fitting the song to a section of the musical journey. The song is part of the musical journey, so every song feels natural in its' placement.
Cher has always been one of my favourite singers, and I expect that this will be the closest I'll ever get to seeing this icon on stage. It's a really good retelling of Cher's life, from childhood to her late 1990's resurgence. With all the songs any fan should know and a brilliant finale, I went home with all these songs going round my head and in seventh heaven.
An absolute must see for anyone who loves glitter, glam and glorious music.
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