Cilla The Musical UK Tour

Cilla The Musical

The Lowry, Salford

28/08/18

‘Cilla’ based on the TV drama of the same name, and is first and foremost the story of an ambitious girl who wants to make it in music. Considering showbusiness was lucky enough to enjoy Cilla’s company for over fifty years, the musical reveals just a tiny part of her life, yet packs in a lot. Several stories are weaved through Cilla’s rise to fame. The love story of Cilla and Bobby is heart-warmingly told, with the audience sharing smiles and shenanigans, tears and tantrums with the couple.

Kara Lily Hayworth takes on the role of Cilla herself and is unquestionably a very talented performer. If anything, her vocal ability is a tad more impressive than the legend of a lady she portrays. Kara's cover of ‘Anyone who had a Heart' had the whole audience talking in the interval with outstanding vocal abilities shown. For me, it was the stand out moment of the show.  As an actress, Kara captures Cilla’s warmth, gritty determination and that all important likeability factor. 

Bobby Willis played by Alexander Patmore really made Act One for me, with his charming ways and comical quest to woo Cilla.

Brian Epstien (manager of Cilla and The Beatles) is played by Andrew Lancel. Andrew’s performance was the one that tugged at my heartstrings the most. It’s his part in a gripping, dark subplot where he balances the perfect amount of vulnerability with self-restraint to give us an insight into his character’s personal pain and his downward spiral alongside the rise of the Beatles.

The story is set to a fantastic 60’s soundtrack featuring Cilla’s hits and uses the songs of other artists she worked alongside to move the story on. The band in its various guises are faultless and hits including ‘I like it’ by Gerry and the Pacemakers, ‘California Dreaming’ by the Mamas and Papas and ‘Twist and Shout’ by The Beatles complement the ballads.

The show’s staging is the best I have ever witnessed with super slick and very clever transitions, transporting the audience from scene to scene, from Cilla’s front room to The Cavern Club and back again. Each set worked in helping to convey the story, with costumes helping to identify key characters.

Directed by one of the UK’s most successful theatre producers Bill Kenwright, this depiction of Cilla’s loved career is both endearing and exciting. The show is jam-packed with talent both on and off stage. You don’t have to know much about Cilla to enjoy this show, it’s the themes, the characters and the music that make this such an enjoyable watch, to the point where I bought a ticket to go again the next day!