Fab Four Come Back To Life!

I get so used to the ubiquitous 'Juke Box Musical' that I was somewhat taken aback last night when the Fab Four arrived in town under the guise of a Union Jack emblazoned programme bearing the title Let It Be.

But this was no Mamma Mia or Save the Last Dance for Me, where a string of hits are lumped together behind a loose storyline in order to thrill an eager audience with performances of their favourite numbers; more the concert you never got to see!

The producers of Let It Be appear to have secretly 'auditioned' some of the best Beatle tribute acts around and harvested their key performers in order to deliver something as close to the real thing as you are likely to see.

Beautifully staged with impeccable costumes, lighting, archive footage of the Beatles' historic 56,000 Shea Stadium gig in New York in 1965, along with oodles of screaming fans, this 'gig' played to capacity and had everyone on their feet. As far as Leeds was concerned John, Paul, Ringo and George were in West Yorkshire!

But, if you suffer from fits, for God's sake don't go because this show features stroboscope overload and, if you are anything less than vulnerable in that department, you could find yourself rolling in the aisles for all the wrong reasons. Personally, I took to covering my eyes the roving spotlights were that intrusive at certain points.





This Fab Four, who all seemed to have had some kind of association with the Beatles, be it their music, a tribute act or some kind of travelling show, were so believable and, with every passing 'era' Reuven Gershon seemed to grow more and more like Lennon with Emanuele Angeletti emulating cheeky chappy Paul McCartney to a tee. Their Scouse accents were a little diluted but hey, who was there to hear dialect! Their collective musicianship was exemplary.

As much as anything the show, which carefully takes the audience on a journey through the Beatles' musical life, serves to illustrate how talented the Fab Four were because, when grouped together, you really do get a feel for the diversity and breadth of their music and lyrics which evolved beyond measure in the 12 years they were together.

This is a foot stomping, entertaining, night at the stadium with posh seats and an interval drink! If you are a Beatles fan, then go and re-live your youth. If you are a young, new convert to the Fab Four, then you'll never get a better chance to attend some of their most famous gigs!

Let It Be
Leeds Grand
Until Saturday
7.30pm (Wed & Sat Matinees 2.30pm)