Okee dokee folks… It’s truly a shame that The Cher Show will only be at The Providence Performing Arts Center for two nights. If you are a fan of Cher then it is surely a must-see but this is such a fun show you would be hard pressed NOT to love it. Tonight, Tues, February 5, the first night of the PPAC run, was my second time seeing this thoroughly enjoyable jukebox musical. My first was about a year ago in Boston. Loved it then and loved it again tonight!
The Cher Show is a musical about the life and times of the singer-actor-diva. The musical covers the first four decades of Cher. This production utilizes THREE Chers- known as “Babe”, “Lady”, and “Star”. They represent her at various stages/ages in her life and career and sometimes they are on stage all at once - joking, bickering, consoling, or singing with one another. Often they are conferring with one another about decisions to make and those that have already been made. They may represent the three ages of Cher but are three different personalities of the same woman.
The show includes 35 songs, mostly hits by Cher, but a few numbers by others, such as the Allman Brothers. Some of the early hits she sang back-up on are also added to propel the story.
The show kicks off with a silhouetted Star singing “If I Could Turn Back Time” which turns into an ensemble number and then continues into what becomes the first of many songs sung by the trio of Chers. The “Star Cher” addresses the audience directly, is the main narrator, and turns back time to tell her story.
The “Babe Cher” portrays Cher’s youth and guides the audience through the beginnings of her dream to sing and act, her struggles with her ethnic identity, her dyslexia and shyness. The song “Half Breed” is performed to emphasize the struggle. An inspirational moment at a movie theatre is the catalyst for her dream to begin. Cher’s mother tells Babe, “The song makes you strong.”
"Lady" takes over soon after meeting Sonny Bono, and they transition from Caesar and Cleo to Sonny and Cher and travel to London to perform “I Got You, Babe” on Top of the Pops. The Vegas days, "The Sonny & Cher Show," marital conflict and more filled the first half. Designer Bob Mackie is represented in character, song, and gowns galore. “Living In A House Divided,” “Bang, Bang,” a ballad version of “Believe,” and “Song For The Lonely” bring the end of the first act. The latter two are sung by the trio of Chers and are very powerfully performed.
Act II picks up in the middle of a Napoleon and Josephine skit on the Sonny & Cher show where Cher has reached her limit with Sonny. A visit, conversation and duet - ”Heart of Stone” with Lucille Ball help “Lady” go out on her own. “Gypsys, Tramps, and Thieves” announces the newly solo Cher. Soon Greg Allman enters the picture with “Midnight Rambler,” and “Ramblin’ Man.” Going down in flames “Just Like Jesse James” emphasizes a downswing in her chosen path. A duet of “Dark Lady” sung by Allman and Sonny is one of the many highlights of the show. The woman who dances with them during this one is exquisite.
The story continues with “Baby, Don’t Go,” “Strong Enough,” “When The Money’s Gone,” “The Way Of Love,” “The Beat Goes On/It Don’t Come Easy,” “I Found Someone,” and a reprise of “I Got You Babe,” which carries things through Sonny’s death, her movie roles, more ups and down, and her career comeback. A trio performance of “You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me” was the strongest number of the night.
The show closes with a performance of “Believe” complete with auto-tune effects and a big finale of “"Strong Enough"/"Woman's World"/"All Or Nothing"/"You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me" and “Take Me Home.”
The Cher Show is inspiring, empowering, funny, nostalgic, and just plain entertaining. There’s lots of dancing, lots of flashing lights, and lots and lots of extravagant costumes. The dialogue is witty and well written. Some memorable exchanges include Cher’s mother saying “Settle down and marry a rich man” with Cher replying, “Mother, I am a rich man!”, and Allman telling Cher “You don’t understand excess” when encouraging her to try drugs to ease her stress to which she snapped back, “Have you seen my costumes?” There are many ensemble dance bits with amazing and outrageous costumes. The lead actors: Star - Morgan Scott, Lady - Catherine Ariale, and Babe - Ella Perez all were stellar and captured the mannerisms, voice, and look of Cher perfectly. If I had to choose a standout I would say that Catherine Ariale as Lady had a bit more shine of the already shining Chers. Lorenzo Pugliese as Sonny Bono nailed the role and had the audience believing in his Sonny from the moment he opened his mouth and spoke his first line.
The last song and dance number pulled out all the stops and brought the audience to their feet for a fitting ending to a wonderful show. Put this one on your Broadway Bucket List. That’s it for now. Don’t forget you can listen to my podcasts at: motifri.com/rootsreportpodcast. You can also find my concert photographs at motifri.com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks for reading and listening. johnfuzek.com
