If you love music you woud love That’ll Be The Day. ESP’s Lorenzo Monteforte is a convert to this ever-popular music and variety show after seeing it at the Cresset…
Bringing back its live entertainment along with a walk down memory lane, That’ll be The Day brought the Cresset to life with a return to the days when music was made.
Starting as far back in the 1980’s, That’ll Be The Day has toured the UK with its variety show filled with music and comedy drama, bringing the days of pop, the blues, swing and rock and roll back to life again. This well-designed production re-educates the public on how music has made its mark in history through several performers who demonstrate how the times have changed through music and comedy.
Trevor Payne, director of the show since the late 1980’s, wrote (yet again) a comical script that had the audience laughing endlessly throughout the 3 hour show, whilst they were reminiscing over the music they were brought up with.
Taking us back 60 years to the times of Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison, the audience listened to their famous 1950’s classics and were told how musicians were allowed to record their songs at Sun Records for just $4!
Radio Caroline, a true story previously unfamiliar to me about the pirate radio station on a ship, was told through video followed by a song to remember the ship after its sinking – ‘Goodbye Caroline’. Up until 1964, trying to listen to pop music on the radio during the day meant you were limited to just a few hours a week. Radio Caroline changed all that. Without a doubt, it became a prime catalyst of the 60’s social revolution. Covering the 60’s decade came the tunes from Tina Turner, The Beatles, Bobby Vee and many more great artists who got the audience dancing along.
As the show came to an end, the 70’s music hit the stage and out came the platform shoes, disco clothing and funky hair styles! With this setup, the cast encouraged the audience to stand up and sing along to the tunes by The Monkees, Bonnie Tyler and other great artists which got everyone dancing. I’ve never seen such a huge audience of people aged in their 40’s to 80’s up and moving at a show of this kind.
Overall, this has to be one of the best Rock’n’Roll shows I’ve seen to date – great musicians, wonderful singers, fantastic impersonators, hilarious comedians, and a fully entertained audience which contributed to the lively atmosphere.
It was a shame that not many of the younger generation could see how the music of today was created. It was apparent how privileged the audience, who lived through the birth of Rock’n’Roll really were. Plenty of the tunes played have been covered by modern artists. A young girl told me in the foyer after the show that she was amazed to see her dad sing along to the words of some of the re-worked numbers such as Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl which was re-released later in 2001 by the now disbanded Westlife.
This show is repeated with new material each tour – I can’t understand how I’ve missed it up until now – but I will certainly be there for the next one when it returns with the Christmas show at the Cresset on December 4. Tickets are on sale now on 01733 265705 so make sure you don’t miss out.
Lorenzo Monterforte
Comments