Let It Be First Preview

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 11:49pm

I was there tonight and if the prosecution needs a witness to testify that this is a near carbon copy of Rain I'll be happy to oblige. Of course, if I'm sworn to tell the truth I would have to add that by some crazy stretch Rain was actually a (slightly) better show.

They both followed the same format: songs are basically sung chronologically, album by album, with costume changes to reflect the different eras/album covers. Video clips with narration cover the breaks and some very limp shtick attempts to act as the connective tissue between the numbers.

I wish they would mix things up a bit and order the songs thematically rather than chronologically. Each album/period sounds similar so you ending hearing 4 songs that sound very much alike and then move on. Wouldn't the obvious choice lyrically to open a Beatles review be "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band?" You certainly wouldn't want to place it three songs before the act one finale.

On top of this the staging was so static that boredom set in instantly.

Usually I think it's verboten to complain about the sound at a first preview because that's a tricky thing to get right until you have a few performances with a full house, but the balance between the vocals and the music was very off. Luckily I guess we all know the lyrics (and tunes) to their songs, but still it was difficult to decipher what they were singing. All they do is stand there the entire show; hopefully this won't be too taxing to sort out.

On a personal note, my favorite Beatles album is The White Album, and sadly they only performed two selections: Blackbird and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. So much time is spent on the early songs (and covers), when the real creativity and genius of The Beatles didn't emerge until later in their collaboration.

My suggestion: skip it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 11:51pm

No Helter Skelter? What the?

[darquegk]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 11:54pm

Almost all the "licensed" Beatles tribute shows are nearly identical because they are descended from the Broadway "Beatlemania" in some form or another.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/17/13 at 12:14am

No Helter Skelter (unless I tuned it out!)

But on an even sadder note, no Rocky Raccoon.

I couldn't find it on Youtube, but Ann Margret performed an especially bizarre version of Rocky Raccoon on one of her variety shows. It's my second favorite rendition behind the original.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/17/13 at 12:47am

And Soul Doctor tomorrow? You're gonna have a rough week. Hats off to ya.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/17/13 at 12:50am

This sounds dreadful. I am not a Beatles fan at all. I snuck in and watched a couple songs when the Rain tour was playing the theatre I worked. A Beatles tribute is a Beatles tribute, and I don't see why we need another one on Broadway. I found Rain to be a colossal bore that belonged in a casino showroom. This sounds no better.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 7/17/13 at 12:55am

The show runs 2 hours 30 minutes. Note that the music, videos and talking are EXTREMELY loud (just as loud as a rock concert at Madison Square Garden), so some people may want to bring earplugs. There are $20 discount balcony tickets available via Goldstar.

Updated On: 7/17/13 at 12:55 AM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/17/13 at 12:55am

RippedMan, Sadly I have to miss Soul Doctor's first preview tomorrow because of Violet, but I have my tickets for the second, and then back to First Date on Friday to see Zachary's understudy.

Yes I realize it's the middle of July and there's nothing to see, but I hope this masochistic schedule will build up some good theater karma when things get busy in September and October.

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 10:49am

If you're a HUGE Beatles fan (like myself), will you find this show enjoyable or disappointing? It can go either way sometimes, especially when its done very straightforward. I think it's better when it's slightly stylized, like LOVE (which is the most incredible thing I've ever seen).

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 11:24am

I'm a big Beatles fan (my father never gave my brother and me a choice- if you wanted to live under his roof you listened to The Beatles), and I think the pale imitations these performers gave made the experience even worse than if I had only be a casual listener.

At least the guys in Rain made a strong attempt to sound like The Beatles. These four guys, especially Paul, didn't sound like them at all.

[macnyc]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 11:25am

I live with one of the biggest Beatles fans of all time. (I exaggerate, but only slightly.) Beatles fans know that there are several well-respected and amazing bands like the Fab Faux and 1964: The Tribute that tour and play in the New York City area regularly. So shows like Rain and Let It Be are aimed at the casual theatergoer who wants to see something on Broadway and is not particularly fussy what it is. At least, that's my opinion.

Whizzer, if you want to hear the White Album live, go hear the Fab Faux when they are performing it. They will deliver.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 11:48am

"I am not a Beatles fan at all."

How horrible some lives must be.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 12:46pm

Actually, pre-Broadway, Rain was the cream of the crop. It started as a bar band in California in the Seventies, actually predating Beatlemania by several years (in 1982, as Beatlemania's first run came to a close, many former cast members joined Rain), and went on to become the highest-grossing touring act of its kind.

Ask anyone who knows about The Fab Faux or 1964: The Tribute and they'll tell you about these guys too. (In fact, Jimmy Pou, formerly of 1964, was an alternate George in Rain's last Broadway engagement.)

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 2:07pm

I guess I'll just never understand tribute acts. I never saw The Beatles live and while I enjoy a lot of their music, I'd rather just listen to the actual band sing it on my iPod as opposed to going to some masquerade where I pretend four random people are The Beatles and enjoy a completely fake concert. If you're not going to put any kind of twist on it and just play a straight imitation... I just don't see the appeal.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 2:17pm

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public, kids.

[Outoftowner2]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 3:30pm

I am a Beatles fan, saw it in London and liked it. If you are a Beatles fan it's great to hear the songs live. If you're not a Beatles fan don't go.

[suestorm]

Posted: 7/18/13 at 3:35pm

i saw Paul at shea stadium and he was great. so i am interested in seeing this!

[csees]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 12:32pm

well Graham Alexander was in all of them except Fab Faux.




"I live with one of the biggest Beatles fans of all time. (I exaggerate, but only slightly.) Beatles fans know that there are several well-respected and amazing bands like the Fab Faux and 1964: The Tribute that tour and play in the New York City area regularly. So shows like Rain and Let It Be are aimed at the casual theatergoer who wants to see something on Broadway and is not particularly fussy what it is. At least, that's my opinion.

Whizzer, if you want to hear the White Album live, go hear the Fab Faux when they are performing it. They will deliver."

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 7/23/13 at 11:42pm

Does anyone think this will really stay open through December?

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 9:17am

Saw it last night, loved it and from the reaction so did most of the audience.

No they aren't the Beatles but since we can't have that this is the next best thing.

I am sure I will go back again!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 11:55am

"If you're not going to put any kind of twist on it and just play a straight imitation... I just don't see the appeal."

I think the appeal may be more for Beatles fans who did not grow up in the era of the Beatles and never had the pleasure of seeing them live (like me). Not sure I will pay to see this live on Broadway; I may wait for the next round of Rain to come to a theater near me.

Off--topic, but I saw Paul McCartney live recently, and he was fantastic!

[BroadwayJoe3]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 1:37pm

I saw the show on Monday night and all I can say is that I hope the cast of RAIN wins whatever legal suit they have pending. I have seen RAIN many times and this show and cast wish they had half the talent that the RAIN cast has. I don't see this show going past Labor day.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 2:13pm

I saw this show Sunday night and was glad I brought earplugs! The band was ok during the early part of the show but the Sergeant Pepper era was sloppy and really disappointing. The crowd, which was mostly families, had a wonderful time and were really loving it.

[suestorm]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 10:29am

NY TIMES says this is the best Beatles show yet, better then Rain or Beatlemania. getting my tickets now!

http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/theater/reviews/let-it-be-a-broadway-tribute-to-the-beatles.html?_r=1&

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 7/29/13 at 11:25pm

OMG what an interminable evening of theatre. Actually, I won't even call that theatre because it was just a flashy cover band. I'm not going to go into too much of a review of the show rather than to say that it was dreadful and not worth anyone's time. It boggles my mind that people pay those prices to see this kind of crap.

My review will focus more on the audience which was HORRIBLE...and I've seen TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. Never have I seen more people taking pictures with flashes, videotaping entire portions and singing along. Apparently these actions are allowed by the production which I find absurd. I'm not totally sure that people didn't understand that these weren't actually the Beatles on stage.

The most ridiculous part of the evening was when one of the ushers walked down the aisle to right in front of the stage and TOOK PICTURES with his flip phone...TWICE!! If you want to allow the audience to partake in this foolishness then fine but I don't need the ushers being distractions as well.

I'll say one last thing...