Let it Be, the new show in London at the Prince of Wales theatre had its opening night last night, Monday 24th September, and I was lucky enough to be in the audience. The first thing that struck me was not only how good the band were musically but just how uncanny the resemblance to the Beatles the actors were, particularly Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Which later prompted my question to the producer, did they happen to find a Paul McCartney look-a-like then teach him the bass guitar, or was it a happy coincidence that they unearthed a talented musician who just happened to look like Paul McCartney? In this instance I was told that Emanuele Angeletti was auditioned as a musician first and foremost and it was a happy coincidence that he so physically resembles a young Paul McCartney. He also came through the audition process at the Cavern club in Liverpool, incredible but true.
The mannerisms of all four band members were spot on, the way that John Lennon sang and chewed gum, Ringo’s bobbing head in the early days, and Paul McCartney’s rendition of Let it Be were all so true to the original it was as if you were watching the Beatles on stage through their different eras.
I wonder whether Cilla Black, who famously sang at the Cavern club with the Beatles and was a dear friend, was transported back to that era as she sat a few rows back in the centre stalls.
The musicianship and the singing was fantastic, with both George and Ringo singing their respective numbers, Here Comes the Sun, While My Guitar Gently Weeps and With a Little Help from My Friends.
The audience rose to their feet as one during the Shea stadium segment, with the backdrop being the crowd at the Shea stadium and the excitement generated felt like you were there.
I was pleased that my particular favourite Beatles songs were featured; Revolution, Help, Day Tripper, A Day in the Life and Get Back. Shame they didn’t do Back in the USSR, but then again this show reminds you just how prolific the Beatles were as song writers and what a catalogue of truly great tunes and lyrics that they composed between them.
2012 is the 50th Anniversary of the world’s most successful band, The Beatles, and Let it Be, is a musical celebration of The Beatles famous hits live in London’s West End. It is the concert that never was, featuring over twenty of their greatest hits through the different eras, from their early pop stardom, through the psychedelic and flower power periods all under-pinned with true rock ‘n’ roll greats, awesome ballads and simply great songs including:
- I Wanna Hold Your Hand
- Hard Day’s Night
- Hey Jude
- Come Together
- Yesterday
- All You Need is Love
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
- Let It Be
- Twist and Shout
- She Loves you
- Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Prince of Wales theatre in London’s West End was famously the venue for The Beatles iconic Royal Variety Show performance on 4 November 1963, 48 years ago, in the presence of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. Last night the boys performed in front of Liverpool royalty, Cilla Black and King of the Jungle, Christopher Biggins.
Back in 1963 The Beatles had emerged from Liverpool and The Cavern Club and were now an established phenomenon with Beatlemania in full swing, crowds of frenzied teenagers following their every move. They were scheduled to appear seventh on the 19-act bill on the night. Last night they were firmly centre-stage and a brilliant concept it is too.
In 1963 The Beatles began playing the opening bars from their song, From Me To You, before the curtains at the theatre had even opened. The audience went wild. John Lennon made his now famous introduction to their hit Twist and Shout; ‘For our last number I’d like to ask your help. The people in the cheaper seats clap your hands. And the rest of you, if you’d just rattle your jewellery’. Lennon’s quip ensured worldwide headlines the following day.
So now 48 years on The Beatles or rather the fantastic look-alikes return to the London theatre, at the very same venue to play a host of Beatles classic entirely live. My colleague actually saw the Beatles live at Hammersmith; however, she never heard them for all the screaming. I can’t believe the real Beatles were any better on stage than the stars of Let It Be, and they played a number of songs that the Beatles themselves never performed live. In fact as major contributors to British music their journey was relatively short-lived from their first hit at the end of 1962 to their break-up in 1970 and their last studio album, Let it Be, with very few live performances after their early Hamburg appearances.
The show title ‘Let it Be’ is the title of the hit song by The Beatles, released in March 1970 as a single, and as the title track of their last album Let It Be. Written by Paul McCartney, but as ever credited to the Lennon–McCartney writing partnership. It was their final single before McCartney left the band.
In 1987, the song was re-recorded for charity by super group Ferry Aid, including Paul McCartney. It reached No. 1 in the UK for three weeks.
In 1985, McCartney performed ‘Let It Be’ as the closing act of the Live Aid charity concert in London with a global television audience exceeding one billion people. Poignantly, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr sang ‘Let It Be’ during a memorial service for Linda McCartney in 1998.
More recently Paul McCartney performed the song as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations earlier this year at Buckingham Palace in London.
