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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson
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This new musical is currently touring the UK, showing the life story of Cher, the much loved pop goddess. It starts with her as a young girl, falling in love with singing at the cinema and moves through her time with Sonny and her rise to fame. So, there’s no plot spoilers here, we all know she became a star!
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We were asked before it started not to be a Beyonce or Britney and sing along, and luckily they assured us there would be a chance at the end. It’s hard not to sing along to the songs we love and Cher has many, although some of the songs included were about her, written for the show, rather than just being her hits.
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Unusually there are three leading ladies in this show, although I have seen similar in the Elvis World Tour when Shawn Klush and Dean Z depict the two very different stages of his life. With Cher the stages maybe are not so pronounced, she’s always been stunning and slim. Millie O’Connell plays Babe Cher, Danielle Steers plays Lady Cher and Debbie Kurup plays Star Cher! As we follow the chronological story each reincarnation gets a chance to be the star of The Cher Show, with the others as backing singers – narrating the story, watching over her, reminiscing.
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All were fabulous and played the differing stages of her life very well with Babe being that bit less polished and professional, a definite feel of the awkward teenager.The male characters are also fabulous, it’s not all about the girls even if she/they are the focus! Lucas Rush, Jake Mitchell and Sam Ferriday are the main names involved and everyone is glorious.
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The dancing, the costumes, the sets are all carefully thought out and presented. There’s so much glitter and shine, as you would expect from such a glamourous diva! I particularly liked the ingenious ways the year was worked into the set, whether it was on the backs of the chairs at the cinema, or the number balloons when Sonny and Cher’s baby came onto stage in a pram. You always knew where you were in the chronology without it being in your face.
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At the end there were some of the hits performed and we were encouraged to sing along. The audience did not need encouragement to get to their feet clapping and singing along merrily. Everyone left with a smile, and I’m sure my household is not the only one still singing Cher songs..
Further tour dates: https://cheronstage.com/tour-dates/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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