If there’s one diva above them all who is befitting of a musical about her it’s Cher. With a career of attention grabbing outfits, incredible songs and star quality that has left many peers trailing in her wake, Cher is everything you’d want from a pop star and the stage show devoted to her is VERY nearly everything you’d want in a show about the global icon.
While those who aren’t die hard Cher fans know her purely for her long list of chart smashes like Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, Turn Back Time and Believe, all of which are present and correct in The Cher Show, there is a lot more to the woman with the decade spanning career.
The Cher Show, which opened at Sunderland Empire on Tuesday evening delves into the career struggles of a woman who, on the surface of things, has always had it all, while shining the spotlight of cuts from her back catalogue that haven’t received the credit they deserve.
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Other than the vast array of Cher classics, the huge draw of the show, directed by former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips and choreographed by Oti Mabuse, should, without question, be the stellar performances of the three women who play the lady herself during different stages of her life. They say three’s a crowd, well in this case it most definitely isn’t, as Millie O'Connell, Danielle Steers and Debbie Kurup all excel in bringing not only that distinct Cher vocals, but also her mannerisms, as well as putting their own stamp on a woman who has become her own force of nature.
As Babe, young Cher, Millie, rides the line of a girl brimming with star quality with real quirkiness, which is there in abundance as Cher and Sonny see their star rocket with I Got You Babe. Millie’s performance gives the audience a real insight into how Cher got her dream of being a singer, while also scratching the surface of her, at times, very strained relationship with Sonny.
Danielle is both dazzling and dynamic and, quite frankly, jaw-droppingly good as Lady. While she has the tone of Cher down to a tee, she also brings an incredibly strong stage presence that allows her to give even the biggest of divas an added edge. Danielle absolutely tears up the stage in numbers Bang Bang, I Found Someone and act one closer Song for the Lonely, one of those often over looked Cher tracks, which is the perfect fit for a stage adaptation.
Sunderland born Debbie again, while unmistakeably Cher, does things her way as Star, with a real knockout performance that sees her make a triumphant return to home turf, wowing the Wearside faithful with stunning vocals in the likes of Just Like Jesse James, alongside the brilliant Sam Ferriday as Greg Allman and I Found Someone.
While Millie, Danielle and Debbie all get their individual chances to sign, the tactic of having them all tell the story and weave in and out of each other’s scenes, helps both the narrative thread of the show and the vocal prowess of the big numbers.
While the musical is undeniably The Cher Show, she has a number of key players in her life. Late husband and manger Sonny is played to great aplomb by Lucas Rush, with him nailing the switch from kind and funny to controlling as things got increasingly fraught between the couple.
As Bob Mackie, Jake Mitchell is like a Duracell bunny of fabulousness, leading, for me, one of, if not THE stand out dance number from the show Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do with finesse and fine tap skills. As Cher’s mother, Tori Scott is sensitive yet sassy.
If you love Cher, you will love The Cher Show. All the big hits are in there (minus my personal favourite Love and Understanding!) and the use of slightly lesser known tracks, including A Different Kind of Love Song and You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me Yet, which gives the show its own And I’m Telling You from Dreamgirls moment, pays off with panache.
For me, I would like it to have been ever so slightly more of a spectacle, with some of the bigger songs afforded a bit more of the limelight, but that’s not to take anything away from the cast as performer to performer, they are simply superb. And, a boy can dream, but I'd love to have seen a bit more of 90s Cher, along with even the briefest of nods to her Mamma Mia 2 cameo and ABBA album, although I fully appreciate that might be a wish too far, given the show opened on Broadway the same year Mamma Mia 2 was released!
If you go and see The Cher Show and you aren’t up dancing during the curtain call you might want to check your pulse! The production is creative, camp and captivating. And, making no apologies for this, ‘if I could turn back time,’ to press night I’d see it all over again in a heartbeat.
*The Cher Show is on at the Sunderland Empire until Saturday, April 30, with performances every night and added matinees on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
