Reviewed by Jan Dixon
This musical is an adaptation of the critically acclaimed hit ITV series by Bafta Award winner Jeff Pope. It tells the story of the young teenage Priscilla White; how she changed her name to Priscilla Black and became one of the UK’s best-loved entertainers.
The timeline of the musical covers the era between 1960-1967, starting with a young Cilla performing in clubs around Merseyside in the evening, whilst still working in a typing pool as a day job. After being introduced to manager Brian Epstein by her friend John Lennon, Cilla became Epstein’s only female client. Success followed for Cilla, with number one hits for ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’ and ‘You’re My World’ in 1964. An attempt to break into the American market is shown in the musical, with a magnificent set portraying Cilla’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1965. Cilla’s famous encounter with Burt Bacharach in the UK recording studio, resulting in her well-known recording of his song ‘Alfie’ is also highlighted. The story of the young Cilla is not sanitised, but is a faithful account of her interactions with her husband-to-be Bobby Willis and the sadness surrounding her relationship with Brian Epstein, her manager.
The soundtrack to the musical includes Cilla’s greatest hits ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’, ‘Alfie’ and ‘Something Tells Me’, ‘Step inside Love’; ‘Twist and Shout’ by the Beatles; ‘California Dreaming’ by the Mama’s and Papa’s and music by the Big Three and Gerry and the Pacemakers. All songs were easily recognised by the audience, who responded by singing along and clapping.
The role of Cilla was undertaken by Kara Lily Hayworth, who was excellent in her rendition of the hit songs. The other cast members portrayed their various characters with gusto and enthusiasm. Cilla’s parents, played by Pauline Fleming and Neil MacDonald, were strong characters and gave comedic value to the story with their asides. Every singer performed well and unexpected gems were heard. In particular, Andrew Lancel, who played Brian Epstein, sang with such emotion it brought the pathos of his story strongly to the fore. Another unexpected delight was the voice of Carl Au, who played Bobby. The finale featured the whole cast, many of whom joined in with the singing and music; the audience rose to their feet, very enthusiastically singing and joining in with the well-known songs. There was a final solo song after the cast finale by the actress playing Cilla, which was not so well received and seemed rather unnecessary in the format of the show. An excellent show; thoroughly recommended, with a 4 star rating.
The Mayflower Theatre is close to railway links with a variety of car parks close-by. It is advisable to check the nearby Southampton football club fixtures as this can have a huge impact on the volume of traffic entering/leaving Southampton. Do allow for this when travelling to the venue. The theatre itself is due for refurbishment next year, but the seating and interior were still clean and well-maintained.
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £19.50 to £46.50 (booking fees may apply).
Cilla The Musical is at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from 3-7 October 2017, for more information or to book tickets visit www.mayflower.org.uk or call the box office on 02380 711811.
Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GE | 02380 711811
