This show comes with a lot of Beatle baggage.
And, boy, they have to carry that weight.
It is a tall order to do a Beatle show in the town where it all began.
Broadway, Japan, Scandinavia..the music from the Moptops travels well and always will.
They are timeless.
The on stage band here take the audience on a long and winding journey through the Fab Four's incredible magical history tour.
Scene from 'Hard Day's Night' section of the show. Picture: Paul Coltas
The group I saw on press night (they alernate with other fab musicians) were: Paul (Manny Angeletti); John (Paul Canning); Ringo (Luke Roberts) and Liverpool's very own George courtesy of Paul Mannion.
His version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a homecoming highlight.
I have seen hundreds of Beatle shows ... in my life (see, it's catching).
The songs always remain the same.
Scene from 'Peppers' section of the show. Picture: Paul Coltas
Interpretations differ as they do in director and musical supervisor John Maher's vision.
Let It Be has played to a million people across the world. And it is slick and polished.
That speaks volumes.
It is a coup to have the production here.
Scene from 'Shea' section of the show. Picture: Paul Coltas
Those in the cheap seats reading this review clap your hands those in the conservatories rattle your jewellery.
A great tribute to the ambitious Royal Court theatre and Kevin Fearon But now I will get back ... to the show.
It is not a musical.
It is not a play.
It could be billed as "the concert John , Paul, George and Ringo never got round to doing."
It has no narrative, but it does what it says on the poster.
A Celebration of the Music of The Beatles.
And there you have it.
A jigsaw jukebox not in chronological order but a festival of memories with 40 songs from I Saw Her Standing There to Hey Jude.
Footage from the sixties on two huge screens provide wonderful backdrops to the Merseybeat era. The scene is set from the outset.
There are some great back projections and swift scenery changes from The Cavern to The Paladium, Shea Stadium, to Pepperland and Abbey Road.
The dialogue is sparse and the Liverpudlian accents should be finely-tuned especially in this city.
If you want to take a break from the Beatle CD, DVDs and want to hear live versions of some of the greatest hits in history this is a two and half hour show for you.
Switch off your mind, relax and float down stream...
They are all fine musicians who clearly relish this showcase.
This fab four, plus one in mini-orchestral one man band Michael Bramwell play their hearts out and celebrate.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's the word celebrate the Beatles unmatched back catalogue.
Four Fab Stars
40 Fab Classics Revisited
It is at the Royal Court Liverpool until The End on November 14.
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