IT was apt that on the day when he would have been 79, a quote from John Lennon would turn out to be a catalyst for a new home-grown musical in Liverpool - the place where it all began.

The title reflects his on-the-surface cynical comment to the four members of the first female rock and roll Merseybeat band The Liver Birds.

They proved him wrong and were every bit as ambitious as the leader of The Beatles.

While John, Paul, George, Pete and then Ringo - managed by Brian Epstein - went on to rule the world ... this collectively feisty, quick-witted quartet knew what they wanted and chose their own career path - combining their love of playing music with pursuing fulfilling personal lives.

Now The Liver Birds are immortalised for local, national and global posterity because this production can and will travel very well.

The performances from the leading ladies are pitched perfectly: Sylvia (Sarah Workman), Mary (Alice McKenna), Val (Molly Grace-Cutler and Pam (Lisa Wright) - originally The Squaws - followed their own instincts and turned down a keen Mr Epstein.

From a local parish club to The Cavern and The Star Club in Hamburg the girls honed their self-taught skills and met the likes of The Rolling Stones and The Kinks along the way.

They also encountered two 'weirdos' who became household names for all the wrong reasons.

The Liver Birds soared in confidence and they eventually gained massive respect from fellow musicians and the huge crowds who came to see them from Germany to Japan.

Writer Ian Salmon and director Bob Eaton are the ideal dream team on the project.

Ian is one of our finest new talents who one day could be poached by TV.

He has a real ear for dialogue from the comic to the poignant.

His other work The Comeback Special - about the 'spirit' of Elvis - wowed them downstairs at The Court Studio and deserves a run in the main house.

Bob Eaton, an established Royal Court stalwart, gave the world Lennon at the Everyman back in 1981.

Bob kick-started the modern day pop musical where actors sing and play their instruments.

He knows how to present a rock and roll story.

And with musical director Howard Gray on board it can't go wrong ... and it doesn't.

It is fabulously faultless in pace, humour, pathos and originality.

This sparkling show is crammed with 60s classics including the Liver Bird hits Peanut Butter and Diddley Daddy.

The story unfolds on designer Mark Walters guitar-inspired set - surrounded by a mountain of TV screens and amps.

There are multi-tasking performances from Tom Connor and John Markwood - but each and everyone of the cast show versatility.

The soundtrack to the production would make a superb album featuring the beautiful song It's got to be you.

On press night there were two remaining Liver Birds on stage for the encore - Sylvia and Mary.

I hope it was filmed and will be included at the end of every show from now on.

It would make for an emotional finale clip for all future productions alongside the back projection archive photographs from 1963 to 2019.

This is a celebration of optimism through music and life-long friendship.

And sorry John ... but these 'down home girls' could play guitars and the drummer was pretty fab, too.

Five Stars - a magical history story.

Until November 2

Tickets from 0151 709 4321