If you are expecting to see yet another shallow, loosely constructed piece written around the hits of Cilla Black then you are in for a big surprise.
Cilla the Musical is a well-constructed piece that rightly deserves the title “musical”. It’s not just another juke-box musical. It has substance, heart and soul and a “lorra lorra laughs” It allows us to share the emotions, beliefs, attitudes and prejudices of sixties life.
It follows Cilla’s rise from typist to superstar focusing on the two men in her life – Bobby Willis and Brian Epstein, who were both pivotal to her success.
It’s a fast moving, energetic show that truly recreates the Mersey Beat sound and reflects the influences the sound had on everyday life.
Gary McCann’s set is superb. The scenes are played out in wonderfully lit proscenium arches that reflect so many different moods and locations from drab domestic to the ultimate glitz.
The production cleverly integrates musicians within its cast. Musical Director, Scott Alder needs to be congratulated for his expert handling of the score – it resonates the sounds of the sixties without becoming overbearing or overly loud.
But it’s Kara Lily Hayworth’s show stopping performance as Cilla that is pure theatrical excellence.
As Cilla she is powerful yet poignant and her vocals are simply mind-blowing in every way. She expertly develops her characterization perfectly from the young nervous girl in the Cavern nightclub singing with the ‘big three’ to a confident performer topping the charts and finally looking towards having her own T.V. show.
Along the way we see the peaks and troughs of her relationship with Bobby and get an idea of the dependency the couple developed through the early years.
As the troubled Brian Epstein,who influenced the sixties pop world, Andrew Lancel, characterizes the role beautifully and captures the darker side of Epstein subtlety and yet with great emotion.
As Bobby, the man who supported and believed in Cilla and eventually became her husband, Alexander Patmore captures the mood of the times and swings from comedy to pathos so easily.
Two wonderful characterizations come from Neil Macdonald and Jayne Ashley as Cilla’s parents. Their views on having single rooms, not giving up a good job as a secretary and other views are so typically 60’s.
Cilla is a spectacular show but above all it has a huge feelgood factor
Leeds Grand Theatre 16-20 October.
Liz Coggins is a member of The Critics Circle
For more information and booking click here.
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