Arguably one of the most popularly beloved pop acts of the 20th century, the Beatles—that engaging Liverpool, UK foursome comprised of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr—have not only left an indelible mark in music history, but have also carved themselves a place in pop culture that still resonates today. It's no surprise, then, that when RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES took the stage of the Orange County Performing Arts Center (performances continue through March 28), there were plenty of screams, lots of heads bopping (to the beat of the music), and ample breakouts of infectious sing-alongs. Steeped in affectionate nostalgia, the theatrically-leaning concert production is an enjoyable multi-media presentation that is huge in both sound and visuals.
What began as "Reign," a Southern California tribute cover band of the Beatles in the 70's, which then turned into a fully-realized Broadway production in the early 80's (appropriately called, of course,
Beatlemania), RAIN—a touring band-slash-theatrical production—is a complex hybrid of authentic mimicry and live talent showcase. Unlike other so-called tribute/cover bands, for its five (yes, not four) band members, the goal is to not only deliver an entertaining show, performing the Beatles songbook with pristine, note-for-note accuracy, but also to actualize an entire production that blends sequentially-topical context, historical remembrances, era-specific visuals, and ear-pleasing pop confections. Meant to be more of an "experience" rather than just a mere, straight-forward rock concert (although the high-decibel, high energy performances seem to suggest it), the audience is taken fondly through a chronological journey of the band via costume changes, set redressing and lighting cues, and giant projection screens that flash images from the decades that follow the musical progression of the band. All the while, the band members are on a constant mission to remind us all that, despite the fact they're mimicking legends, they are actually singing and playing instruments center stage... live, dammit! This ain't Memorex, folks.
Each section of the two-hour-plus show is bro
Ken Down by era, following the Beatles' timeline, which often also coincides with the release of a specific "LP." (The curtain raising is preceded by video montages of what had transpired before this moment in time: WWII, 50's advertising, and the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King and President
John Kennedy). Bypassing any early years before their "British Invasion," the show begins with the Beatles' historic appearance on
The Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964. Cleverly recreating that iconic moment in history live on stage, the members of RAIN as the Fab Four perform in period garb in front of a stage set reminiscent of the backdrop on Sullivan's TV program (complete with "applause" sign). Interspersed within this sequence (as well as throughout the night) are footage from the hysterical audience females, which are then cutely inter-cut with flashes of actual current members of the live audience in the theater (hidden cameras placed on stage provide for some hilarious shots of caught-off-guard patrons). What could've been a cheesy conceit is actually quite appealing and remarkably detailed; their portrayal of the band both while singing and during bits of talking in between sets is charmingly faithful.
The hits aren't skipped here. From the perfect boy band pop-ness of their
Ed Sullivan-era "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "I Saw Her Standing There" to the unabashed fun of "Twist and Shout" and "Hard Day's Night," the audience is treated to one memorable tune after another. Closely book-ended against each other, the Beatles catalog reveals just how much creative growth the band took on as the years progressed. Most likely because this venue normally plays host to touring Broadway musicals and Classical ballet productions, it took the audience a bit of prodding from the band to encourage them to get up on their feet and dance—as if given permission to let loose and enjoy the rock-concert-ness of this out of the ordinary presentation. Young and old(er) alike commune in a collective groove; some savor the music of their youth, while others are astonished at the legacy of these familiar tunes. By the time the guys appear dressed in the whimsical colors of
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the audience is obviously hooked. The complexity of the Beatles' later compositions are not only treated with appropriate reverence and delivery, their socio-political leanings are highlighted with visual cues that help enhance their meaningful, current-era connotations. The musical journey ends with the group's
Abbey Road set, with hits "Come Together" and "Give Peace A Chance" vibrating the theater like protest march anthems. When the encore numbers finally arrive within thunderous applause, the Orange County Performing Arts Theater becomes a tribal love-in.
Though by no means are they complete visual doppelgängers, the members of RAIN do take on the right amount of impersonation (voice-wise and in their personality mannerisms) without looking or sounding like galling, irksome parodies of the originals. As Sir Paul,
Joey Curatolo is by far the best singer of the bunch and
Steve Landes' Lennon is eerily accurate with matching vocals and piano skills to boot.
Joe Bithorn as George shines in his solo work on the masterful "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and
Ralph Castelli perfectly channels the whimsy and playfulness of Ringo, both in front of and behind the drum kit. The fifth Beatle—er, RAINer—is Mark Lewis, inconspicuously blended into the background, yet very much aurally present. He assists the band by providing them a richer sound with additional keyboards and percussion; later, he is the entire string and brass section for the Beatle's more orchestrally-opulent arrangements.
All in all, RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES is an enjoyable, respectable, nostalgia-filled concert experience that reminds everyone why those four original guys from Liverpool became such important pop culture icons.
Photos of the cast of RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES by Joan Marcus. -----
RAIN® - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES continues through March 28. Tickets start at $20 and are available at OCPAC.org, at the Center's Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts for 15 or more, call the Group Services office at 714.755.0236. The TTY number is 714.556.2746. The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, March 27 will be sign-language interpreted.
For more information, visit
OCPAC.org. For more about the band, visit
www.RainTribute.com.
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