Reviewed by Joanne Hughes
The stage show of Macca: The Concert is a celebration of the music of Paul McCartney during his solo career from 1970 to 2016, along with a selection of the Beatles favourites. Starring Emanuele Angeletti as Paul himself, a role he is intimate with having performed as McCartney in the West End musical ‘Let It Be’, he plays piano, bass and guitar as well as being the main vocalist. The rest of the Fab Four; Ringo, George and John, are played by Emanuele’s co-stars of the musical, Paul Canning, John Brosnan, and Luke Roberts.
This superb show is touring the UK at present and played at the impressive modern New Victoria Theatre last night (17 January 2018). The theatre is centrally located in Woking, with plenty of parking nearby in the Peacock Centre, in which the Box Office and main entrance to the theatre is positioned. It is a large building which houses several auditoriums and a cinema, and is owned by the Ambassador group – whose name is signposted on the main outside entrance rather than the name of the theatre (which was quite confusing it being my first visit). There are three levels, with a bar on each level – on the main level, a pianist was providing melodic entertainment before, at intervals, and after the show, which was a lovely touch. The staff were helpful and friendly, particularly the bar staff.
The first half of the show is set in the Seventies and features songs from Paul’s time with Wings including Listen to What the Man Said, Maybe I’m Amazed, and Yesterday. Emanuele was dressed in the role with a Macca mullet and shiny trousers, and Linda was at the back on the keyboards. The second half of the show focused on the Eighties and Paul’s solo career, for which Emanuele had also had a costume change, and included some of McCartney’s best-loved hits such as Live and Let Die, Ebony and Ivory, and Pipes of Peace, as well as lesser known songs such as Hope of Deliverance, and Paul’s ode to John Lennon, Here Today. By the end of the show, in response to Emanuele’s requests, the audience were all on their feet singing along to some of the Beatles classics including Back in the USSR, I Saw Her Standing There and Hey Jude, and a finale of Band on the Run. Not wishing the evening to end, the audience cheered and clapped, and the band returned for an encore of an upbeat version of Mull of Kintyre. We all exited the auditorium to We All Sing Together – or The Frog Chorus as it’s more popularly known.
Throughout the performance, there is a visual media projection with news clips from the Beatles’ days, photos of members of the band and of Paul and his family, as well as period views of Liverpool, and a scenic video of Scotland. There was no narration of Paul’s life but a compilation of his best-loved songs, performed excellently by Emanuele, together with some timely placed comic intros and friendly on-stage banter.
Overall, the show consisted of impressive vocals and exceptional musicianship, recreating the magic of Macca. This is definitely a show that will appeal to both fans of Paul McCartney and of rock and roll.
Rating: 4/5
Macca: The Concert is currently touring the UK, for more information and tour dates visit www.maccatheconcert.com.
For other shows at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking visit www.atgtickets.com/new-victoria-theatre or call the box office on 0844 871 7645.
New Victoria Theatre, The Ambassadors, Peacocks Centre, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6GQ
