Tuesday night, a friend and I attended opening night of Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles. I knew very little about this show, but as it was part of Celebrity Attractions Broadway season, I anticipated that it was going to be a campy and cheesy. Probably just a group of guys attempting to sing Beatle songs.
Boy, was I every wrong.
Before the show even started, we were sitting in our seats playing Beatle trivia on 2 huge screen TVs on either side of the stage.
Then the Civic Center went dark, and the screens became black and white TV's with a Ed Sullivan impersonator introducing the Beatles to his stage. The curtain opened and there were 4 guys dressed as the Beatles singing. I need to tell you that while they are dressed to look like the Beatles and they sound like the Beatles, don't kid yourself...Paul is not standing on that stage. (sigh) The big screens constantly showed images of news reels of the crowds waiting for the Beatles to come off airplanes or at Shea Stadium. However, no pictures of the real Beatles were ever shown. All to the posters, photos etc were of the Rain performers. Rain had the audience standing and singing during the first half of the show more than once.
While the crowd never got to the level of a true Beatle concert, the atmosphere changed after intermission. The audience participation was greater and we stood most of the 2nd half. We sang out loud, clapped and swayed to the music.
This was a great show/concert and one that I would see again in a heartbeat. I forgot how much I enjoyed the Beatles when I was growing up and have found myself searching for Beatle songs to listen to since the show.
If you get a chance, run...don't walk...to get tickets to see Rain.
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