Last weekend, I saw Rain on Broadway. In the past month, I've developed a huge Beatles obsession, so when my boyfriend and I were trying to decide between How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Rain, we opted for Rain. (The 50% discount helped too. Oh and did I mention we got two fifth row seats for $144? I thought it was worth it).
Granted I have never seen the Beatles live (they were far before my time. Very far), but I was completely impressed. I can't say anything about the performance as far as mannerisms go, but I have seen pictures and I have been listening to the Beatles' One album non-stop. And they sounded dead on - especially Paul. My boyfriend, who is a bigger Beatles fan, has seen videos of their performances and did say that Paul was also dead on - everything he did, his gestures, the way he played (the way all of them played) were just like the real Paul. With one exception - he was right handed. Well you can't have everything.
According to the Playbill, the person who plays Paul (Joey Curatolo) taught himself to play the guitar at age ten and won Paul McCartney sound alike contests. So no wonder he was so good, we thought. But then at the end of the performance, they announced that he was actually played by Graham Alexander. We were amazed that it wasn't even the "main" Paul. Can't imagine what Joey Curatolo sounded like!! Also worth noting is George-actor's (sorry I'm not sure who the actor was, it is usually Joe Bithorn) amazing guitar solo in I've Just Seen a Face.
The show itself was divided into different 'albums' I guess, or periods. They did homages to the concert at Shea stadium (and intermixed pictures of the audience in the theatre with actual historical footage of the concert) and also to the roof top concert. It goes chronologically, and just like when I listen to the One album, I love witnessing the progression of the Beatles' music and personalities. It's fascinating to watch from the beginning as they sing songs like "I Wanna Hold Your Hand", which are beautiful in their honest simplicity, and go throughout time through songs like "Help!" to "Hey Jude" and "Come Together".
In addition to having great performers, the show was also just plain fun. Audience participation was encouraged - with clapping (various songs), standing and dancing (Twist and Shout and then more songs at the end) and even singing along (Hey Jude). Much of the audience only participated half heartedly, although down in the orchestra seats people would get into it. I did - might as well take advantage of it. So when they had us sing along at the end to "Hey Jude", they were surprised when the whole theatre sang a whole verse, and "Paul" even had to say "Now it's my turn". It was awesome - to be singing with that many people. It just really makes you feel great, to feel like a part of something as wonderful as the Beatles.
The actors also commented several times on how great it was to see such a wide range of ages throughout the theatre. It truly speaks for how talented and exceptional the Beatles really were. Four decades later, and they still attract a full size theatre full of all kinds of people. With great music and great lyrics, what else could you expect?
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Later, after returning home, I read on the RAIN website that July 31 is their last performance! So glad that I got a chance to see that before it left Broadway!
Also I just wanted to say, while talking about the Beatles, I did also just finish reading The Beatles Unseen Archives, which my sister lent to me. It's mostly pictures, but it is always interesting to see behind the scenes, candid pictures like that. I would definitely recommend to any Beatles fan to take a look at least.
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