The Cher Show At Edinburgh Festival Theatre Review

Reviewed by Deborah Mackenzie

Warning: Flashing Lights; some adult language

Not knowing what to expect from the new musical ‘The Cher Show’; I was just not able to get my head around as to how they were going to portray this amazing superstar on stage. But WOW! We were not given one Cher, but three – each playing a different phase of her life; yet they were on stage together, thoughts being volleyed between them so we could get into her headspace during each crisis arose. It followed her life, the ups and downs and how she gritted her teeth, found her voice and rose to become the goddess of pop.

Cher’s life story is one of heartbreak, poverty, illness, divorce, constant changes over the years which she faced with dedication and authenticity.

The show through the decades depicted the changes in fashion, music and the rise of feminism; Cher being a leader in most. The three ‘Cher’s’ dazzled us with the most amazing voices and complimented each other as they sang in unison. The costumes were breath-taking!

Cher’s top tunes where packed into her life’s story (see below) on stage; I Got You Babe, Strong Enough, The Shoop Shoop Song, Believe and If I could turn back time; all featured. We were asked not to sing along…. That was difficult as they are catchy and toe tapping!

Not forgetting the dance crew who completed each scene with flawless dance routines.  A standing ovation and a sing along ended this night of behind-the-scenes story of a strong, wilful and determined woman who from a mere girl has become the Goddess of Pop; a role model of huge proportions.

Born in 1946, her parents Georgia (Holt) and John Sarkisian relationship ended in divorce when Cher was just 10 months. Holt realised as soon as they wed it was not what she wanted but promised to give it three months. By this time Holt was pregnant with Cher. Holt remarried several times throughout Cher’s life, but Cher looked upon Holt’s 3rd husband as a father figure, this marriage ended when Cher was nine; around the age of eleven her mother reconciled with her biological father, but again it did not work out. Her mother led a very nomad life, where there were times, her mother got a singing or actress part in Hollywood. So, she experienced high life with very down and out times; being shuttled to and fro as her mother did her best for her daughters.

The young Cher shown in the unfolding of her life on stage through song showed a side where times were different as she was called a ‘half-breed’ because of her father being of Armenian heritage (she had a love and respect for her background). School was extremely difficult as she never felt that she fitted in and having dyslexia contributing to her poor grades and report cards that continually said she wasn’t working to her full potential. Eventually at 16 she dropped out of school.

At this young age she left home for Los Angeles, as a shy yet determined girl chasing after her lifetime dream of becoming a singer and actress. This is where she met Salvatore ‘Sonny’ Bono, a 27-year-old songwriter and record promoter. Cher was kicked out by her roommates, and she moved in with Sonny. At first, they were just friends and professional with their career as the folk-pop duo hit stardom in 1965 with their release of ‘I Got You Babe’.

The stage show moved through the years of her life with the years brought onto the stage marking each milestone. A string of songs; Baby Don’t Go and The Beat Goes on brought them success. Thinking it was a way into the world of film they invested their fortune into a comedy Good Times which was a commercial failure. They needed to re-invent themselves and headed for Las Vegas.

Vegas became their way onto television, but her marriage to Sonny was falling apart, they stayed married for public appearances, but Cher demanded a divorce that was finalised in 1975; upon finding out that everything was in Bono’s name; she walked away penniless.

Cher relaunched the Sonny and Cher Comedy under her own name which was a hit. But as a recording artist she was failing and her marriage to Gregg Allman didn’t help matters. She was ill-prepared for Allman’s wild lifestyle of drink and drugs and only after 9 days ended with him. He promised to get clean and after a month they reconciled, but by this time Cher had teamed up with Sonny again to reboot their successful variety show in 1976. Eventually Allman and Cher parted ways.

In the 1980’s Cher chose to focus on acting as her recording career was in a tailspin. She was roled into a variety of films, eventually winning an Oscar for her part in the romantic comedy Moonstruck. She also released another musical hit ‘If I could Turn Back Time’. Sadly, she contracted Epstein-Barr virus while filming The Witches of Eastwick. For two long years she was unable to work; she was offered many movie roles, but she was unable to take them. Once again, she had to start from the beginning…

Nothing seemed to knock Cher down without her being able to get up – and her remarkable life is such an inspirational one showing that dreams are not futile.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The show is on from Tuesday 11th October until Saturday 15th October

Tickets cost from £23.50 (ticket prices include a contribution to the theatres development fund)

For more information or to book tickets please visit The Cher Show (capitaltheatres.com) or phone the box office on 0131 529 6000

13/19 Nicholson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9FT