Let It Be review, The Prince of Wales Theatre

Let It Be is a Beatles concert put on by four excellent musicians, three of them well trained from years in Beatles tribute bands. That's it, really. There's no story and the music stops at Abbey  Road. There are some interesting graphics, and some Sixties footage and... and you get to Twist and Shout and sing along, which is entertaining in a frazzled Victor Meldrew sort-of-way.

Let It Beatles

Two companies perform the piece, and the press night team of Emanuele Angeletti as Paul, Reuven Gershon as John, John Brosnan as George and Gordon Elsmore as Ringo work brilliantly together recreating classics from Hard Day's Night to Sergeant Pepper and Hey Jude.  If you like tribute bands, it rocks. If you don't, you'll be further outraged by the fact that their Paul plays right, rather than left-handed, bass, and puzzled that John is built more like a boxer than a whippet.

What's clear is that the cast will be snapped up for corporate functions once the four month run is over. Their enthusiasm instantly transports anyone who lived through the Beatles era, back to a time when anything was possible. They also help those under 25s who are confused by Sir Paul McCartney's underwhelming efforts at every national event, to understand why he's so venerated.

In conclusion: It would be easy to write off this show as a cheap ticket to ride, but it's an upmarket sing-a-longa Sound of Music: perfect for girls' nights out and stag do's, and for jolly Christmas outings and office parties, so Let It Be.

References
Prince of Wales Theatre, tickets
Michael Coveney review in What's On Stage