Went and saw Backbeat the play last night at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto. Thought it was great!
I could quibble about a few things but, when I say that, it reminds me how much I find quibbles irritating when it comes to my own work, haha.
It didn't really remind me that much of the movie and I heard some lines out of a Hard Days Night and classic Beatle lore such as George talking about Geroge Martin's tie during a studio session. Speaking of George, I didn't find they leveraged his instrument that much. In particular, he didn't play any lead parts. I'm not sure if that's because Dan Westwick (who played George) doesn't play lead? He plays well and held up some nice instrumental fills over dialogue. So that's a quibble for me and George always seems to get shafted in any Beatle story!
Band
I did like the sound of the band! They really sounded great. Both drummers were amazing - It's kind of ironic, but I found, when they got to Ringo playing, I was sad for Pete. But, live, both drummers really had what I imagine was the same kind of intensity that would have made you get up and dance back in the day.
If you've seen The Beatles concert in Washington back from 1964 you'll know what I mean - just beating the hell out of the drums. You don't get the same too much these days. In fact, the sound really was unique in many ways. Three guitars, bass and drums (when you had Sturat playing). I've always visioned my band having two awesome lead players and, er, me along for the rhythm. We've come close on a few songs like Easier and Easy Money. But I digress.
Acting
I thought all the acting was great and the transitons really well done. Props to Isabella Calthorpe for Astrid. She and Nick Blood had me believing they were having an intense romance. Really loved their scenes together. Back to the transitions for a moment. We went from live on stage to apartments, a lighthouse, a recording studio, train station, house, etc. Some fine projections as well. That's part of what I like about theatre - the way you can suspend your mind so that a stage rolling forward doesn't grind - in fact, it makes the moments of transition seem richer. So from a theatrics view - well done and no quibbles!
Let's talk more about the muscians:
I think both from a Pete and Stu perspective the authors wanted to play down maybe some myth i.e. Stu played well enough in this show and Pete drummed well enough too. There was some notice of tensions between McCartney and Sutcliffe on music ability (of Stu) but not much on how Pete was not always in sync with the others. In fact they didn't change hair to follow Stu in this play until well after he died and Pete was out. They could have put that conflict in to be true to the story perhaps. That's a quibble. To be fair, the programme does say they twist a few things to the story. But, I guess my main point is they really didn't get us prepared for Pete to be booted out at all. As well, they put Stu as the cool one all the chicks dig vs. Pete.
Here's a shot of the set from my seating postion - great seat in row J:
More to Love
I also loved the scene where the band that was playing at the Cavern when The Beatles were next up (back home). Not sure who was playing in that band from the ensemble but it was quite fun how they were all dressed in the same suits and did the same moves while playing. Then come The Beatles in leather. You can see how the impact of such contrasts would have been striking and, again, when they hit it, they really hit it. I'm overwhelmed how I felt like it must have felt back in the day to have that happen.
All-in-all
So, all in all, I was pretty jazzed by the show. I'd go again!
I also loved the mini-concert performed at the end after the curtain call. But I should add the actual bowing by the, then, final Batles wasn't quite right. Just sloppy and out of sync. I'm pretty sure Mr. Epstein wouldn't have allowed that! But, that's a quibble isn't it?
CD
I bought the CD of the show. Nice zip to it but less closeness to The Beatles on the disc than in the reality of the moments of the show. I think maybe they would have been better to have recorded live wtih a crowd and added some of the vocal bits to maintain the vibe they had going for me last night.
Daniel Healy is a working muscian as well as acting - none of the others are noted as being singer-songwriters. Have to check what he's doing out. I should add too, the show gives play to Paul being the best muscian of the band. The best bits for me around that were Paul's playing A Taste of Honey to Burt Kaempfert solo and the scene where Lennon helps Paul with Love Me Do. I would have loved more of that!
Final thought
Go see it especially if you are a Beatle freak like me.
I could quibble about a few things but, when I say that, it reminds me how much I find quibbles irritating when it comes to my own work, haha.
It didn't really remind me that much of the movie and I heard some lines out of a Hard Days Night and classic Beatle lore such as George talking about Geroge Martin's tie during a studio session. Speaking of George, I didn't find they leveraged his instrument that much. In particular, he didn't play any lead parts. I'm not sure if that's because Dan Westwick (who played George) doesn't play lead? He plays well and held up some nice instrumental fills over dialogue. So that's a quibble for me and George always seems to get shafted in any Beatle story!
Band
I did like the sound of the band! They really sounded great. Both drummers were amazing - It's kind of ironic, but I found, when they got to Ringo playing, I was sad for Pete. But, live, both drummers really had what I imagine was the same kind of intensity that would have made you get up and dance back in the day.
If you've seen The Beatles concert in Washington back from 1964 you'll know what I mean - just beating the hell out of the drums. You don't get the same too much these days. In fact, the sound really was unique in many ways. Three guitars, bass and drums (when you had Sturat playing). I've always visioned my band having two awesome lead players and, er, me along for the rhythm. We've come close on a few songs like Easier and Easy Money. But I digress.
Acting
I thought all the acting was great and the transitons really well done. Props to Isabella Calthorpe for Astrid. She and Nick Blood had me believing they were having an intense romance. Really loved their scenes together. Back to the transitions for a moment. We went from live on stage to apartments, a lighthouse, a recording studio, train station, house, etc. Some fine projections as well. That's part of what I like about theatre - the way you can suspend your mind so that a stage rolling forward doesn't grind - in fact, it makes the moments of transition seem richer. So from a theatrics view - well done and no quibbles!
Let's talk more about the muscians:
- Daniel Healy as Paul - full marks for vocals, bass and guitars - OK, he doesn't play left handed but he has all the moves correct!
- Andrew Knott as John - great vocals and loved his presence - really made me feel it was John
- Dan Westwick as George - already mentioned as wanting him to do more including some George moves like look outs to the crowd and that stupid little dance thing he would do live
- Oliver Bennett as Pete - really great drummer and brought lots of sympathy to what happens to him
- Nick Blood as Stuart - played the bass well and definitely is cool - very much a likeable character - maybe more so than Lennon?
- Adam Sopp as Ringo - his playng really jumped out as well and I thought it was great that he played differently to Pete - you wouldn't say or feel the change was bad so that sticks in my mind i.e. it wasn't a "Pete forever Ringo never"
I think both from a Pete and Stu perspective the authors wanted to play down maybe some myth i.e. Stu played well enough in this show and Pete drummed well enough too. There was some notice of tensions between McCartney and Sutcliffe on music ability (of Stu) but not much on how Pete was not always in sync with the others. In fact they didn't change hair to follow Stu in this play until well after he died and Pete was out. They could have put that conflict in to be true to the story perhaps. That's a quibble. To be fair, the programme does say they twist a few things to the story. But, I guess my main point is they really didn't get us prepared for Pete to be booted out at all. As well, they put Stu as the cool one all the chicks dig vs. Pete.
Here's a shot of the set from my seating postion - great seat in row J:
More to Love
I also loved the scene where the band that was playing at the Cavern when The Beatles were next up (back home). Not sure who was playing in that band from the ensemble but it was quite fun how they were all dressed in the same suits and did the same moves while playing. Then come The Beatles in leather. You can see how the impact of such contrasts would have been striking and, again, when they hit it, they really hit it. I'm overwhelmed how I felt like it must have felt back in the day to have that happen.
All-in-all
So, all in all, I was pretty jazzed by the show. I'd go again!
I also loved the mini-concert performed at the end after the curtain call. But I should add the actual bowing by the, then, final Batles wasn't quite right. Just sloppy and out of sync. I'm pretty sure Mr. Epstein wouldn't have allowed that! But, that's a quibble isn't it?
CD
I bought the CD of the show. Nice zip to it but less closeness to The Beatles on the disc than in the reality of the moments of the show. I think maybe they would have been better to have recorded live wtih a crowd and added some of the vocal bits to maintain the vibe they had going for me last night.
Daniel Healy is a working muscian as well as acting - none of the others are noted as being singer-songwriters. Have to check what he's doing out. I should add too, the show gives play to Paul being the best muscian of the band. The best bits for me around that were Paul's playing A Taste of Honey to Burt Kaempfert solo and the scene where Lennon helps Paul with Love Me Do. I would have loved more of that!
Final thought
Go see it especially if you are a Beatle freak like me.