“Cilla The Musical”
Nottingham Theatre Royal

It’s the clichéd rags to riches story of an office girl who has big dreams about making it big and then makes it massive. It covers the disapproval of her parents, how she met and married Bobby, who then became her manager, her “discovery” by Brian Epstein and her friendship with The Beatles.It also takes us through the TV years and her final original album she recorded called "Through the Years"

What makes some jukebox musicals fall by the wayside, where this one doesn’t, is the loose story interwoven by some great songs. This story is true and accurate; it has to be as Executive Producer is Cilla’s son Bobby. The soundtrack is not just Cilla’s hits but of The Beatles, The Mamas and The Papas, Gerry and the Pacemakers etc.

Cilla had one of the most recognised voices in the music business so you need someone who

compliments Cilla’s memory and not an impressionist and in Kara Lily Hayworth, you can feel the love for the role and the memory. You just need to hear her sing “Anyone Who Had A Heart” to realise this.

Kara doesn't look like Cilla and she doesn't sound that much like Cilla, but I didn't want a tribute act, and I certainly didn't get one. The mannerisms are there and the accent is as close as you're going to get. In short Kara did a fantastic job and also proves what a wonderful singer she is.

Andrew Lancel, who seems to be no stranger to local Nottingham and Derby stages plays the troubled Brian Epstein. It's quite frightening just how close in looks Andrew is to Brian Epstein.

There's a part in this play where John Lennon plays a new song to Brian at a party which, although at first thought is about his artists, and Cilla in particular, not advertising the the public that she has Bobby as a partner, to keep the public's interest in the artist. The song is "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away". This takes a second possible meaning when you think back to the rumours of John and Brian's friendship.

Carl Au plays Bobby Willis, and what a cracking job he does. he looks like the young Bobby Willis,and is a great choice as Carl is from Kirby in Merseyside, so the accent is authentic. Carl also has a great voice and gets to show this off twice in this show.One thing that I did notice as well was Carl's diction in his singing. He has perfect diction and I heard every single word of his singing.

Big Cilla was played by Pauline Fleming, and shows where Cilla inherited her voice from. Cilla's dad, John, is played by Neil MacDonald. Both wonderful characters in their own right, showing where Cilla got her sense of humour from.

A wonderful ensemble and supporting characters in Bobby's brother and sister-in-law, played by Tom Christian and Amy Bridges.

There's a lot of passion in this musical, a lot of comedy and some sadness. It doesn't shy away from Cilla's diva strops either, but also shows the side of Cilla we all got to know and love through the media. This show has a lot of love behind it and I for one would feel that Cilla herself would have loved every second.

When the bands played live, it was like being at a gig, although the Cavern sequences fortunately didn't smell of disinfectant and urine, as it did in the 60's, where it rained down on the crowd as well as the band's amplifiers.

Loved the costumes, wigs and the choreography and the ease that the sets where moved.The sets are wonderful, taking us from The Cavern Club to Abbey Road recording studios to the London Palladium to an American TV studio and the living rooms of Merseyside.

Musical Director Scott Alder recreated the perfect sound of the period with the rawness of the Cavern bands as well as the lush arrangements of George Martin and Burt Bacharach. The whole production was visually and aurally mesmerising.

You know that any piece of theatre that has Bill Kenwright's name to it just has to be good, and as Director of this gem, there's no way that this is going to be anything but first class.

I was a fan of Cilla's music and TV persona and while I never managed to see Cilla live. This is the closest I'll now get.

If you're a Cilla fan or just a fan of great music performed live, then this is right up your alley, and you'll get a lorra lorra enjoyment out of this jukebox musical.

“Cilla The Musical” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 7 April 2018.