StoryHouse, Chester – until Saturday 10th March 2018. Reviewed by Julie Noller
5*****
My first memories of Cilla Black are of ITV Saturday nights, Blind Date and Surprise Surprise, when she made a scouse accent trendy again. She was a big bouncy ball of fun with a lorra lorra laughs. But this wasn’t the story of down to earth mumsy Cilla in the 1980’s; this was the story of Cilla the young down to earth girl from Scotty Road in Liverpool of the 1960’s. Way before she’d reinvented herself. Where voices were everywhere and everyone knew a Beatle or two and to be introduced to Brian Epstein was everything.
Cilla was originally written by Jeff Pope as a three part television serial celebrating the early years of the Queen of Entertainment, growing up and discovering life and love in postwar Liverpool, the booming times of growth, yet everything was small (except the hair) mini skirts and cars. Liverpool as a port itself was slowly declining yet behind closed doors a musical revolution was developing a new sound. Merseybeat was being nurtured in clubs such as the world famous Cavern Club on Matthews Street. The mini series was given the seal of approval by Cilla herself, the musical became a reality sadly after the much loved iconic star had passed away.
Cilla the Musical sould be explained in two parts, firstly the story. The emotion, the humour, the devotion, the love story. Not just between Cilla and our Bobby, but the feistyness of John Lennon. The hardness of the music industry. The fickleness of fame. Then there’s Brian Epstein brilliantly played by Andrew Lancel, we sense a man in turmoil. So sure of himself bringing stars to the top of the hit parade and yet lonely, insecure and needy. Sadly we see his star fading and eventually being extinguished before his time.
The superb Kara Lily Hayworth delights and enthrals as Cilla. I admit to clapping and toe tapping away as well as rubbing goosebumps, my hairs electric. My fellow audience members delighted me by swaying in their seats, singing away and I heard more than once an exclamation of ‘this is my favourite song’. It’s hard to believe that she was found by attending an open audition after a four hour queue, she feels like she was born to play Cilla. Kara lit up the stage in a way only the very best do. Bobby heartwarmingly played by Carl Au is more than a devoted puppy to the enigma he worships, he is indeed her soulmate, best friend and most trusted confidante. In a world where we people watch as hobby, their relationship should be held aloft as a symbol that if something is worth fighting for then you reap what you sow. Religion aside, people first, is something of a motto. The humour is quite often fast paced and surprising, Cilla’s Dad John White (Neil MacDonald) was in the merchant Navy not a great gag but when delivered with perfect timing is hilarious. Her Mother Big Cilla (Pauline Fleming) proud of her daughters achievement of leaving school suitable for office work, devestated upon her leaving that career to become a recording star and then telling all; she herself could have been famous.
Secondly we have the music, who could tell the story of Cilla Black, during 1960’s Liverpool, without including some of the best songs of Merseybeat? I say some as at nearly three hours long you may begin to struggle, but no you’ll be tapping and swaying. Those three hours pass in a blur of lights and great music. I loved the fact people were up dancing and not just swaying in their seats. I grew up listening to stories of trips to Liverpool, clubs in Chester where these stars actually played. Well tonight I lived during the 1960’s, what a magical decade it was. The songs themselves didn’t need an introduction, but they were all delivered with great passion and understanding. The cast were all brilliant, Characters we all know so well, Cilla was the Queen of Entertainment tonight her star is not only shining in the heavens above but on a small theatre stage in Chester and what a brilliant star it is.