Cilla - The Musical - Sheridan Smith

I don't think I ever heard that much of the real Cilla singing, BurlyBeaR but whatever I did hear - and probably songs from later in her career - left me believing that her voice wasn't up to much - but that's just my opinion and besides, her voice could have changed over time; plus performing style can make a huge difference to the overall impression. Certainly I thought of her more as an "entertainer" than singler and what I did hear didn't leave me wanting more, whereas seeing the show today, I couldn't get enough of Kara Lily Hayworth as Cilla. Now, assuming that the aim was verisimilitude and that the producers therefore wouldn't have chosen someone with a better voice than the person she was playing, does that mean I've misjudged Cilla? Or that I'm over-rating Kara Lily Hayworth's singing?

I think we all need to realise that this was the 60’s and voices were different then. Cilla had a natural nasal tone with odd vowel sounds and a rather shrill belt that could almost be unpleasant to listen to. The girl in the current musical is a much better singer and because of that it is much more pleasant to the ears. The perfect casting.

Audience behaviour off the scale tonight in Manchester. Absolutely dreadful and not just me, I heard other people talking about their own experiences on the way out.

As for the show, total guilty pleasure. Cilla’s early work is before my time but I was introduced to it by an ex whose mum was a superfan and played us the greatest hits constantly. Cilla had an amazing voice as a youngster (and no, Kara Lily Hayward’s voice is not better) and it was great to hear those huge ballads as well as one of my faves Love Of The Loved.

I really liked it but a couple of things jarred. Brian Epstein singing Youve Got To Hide Your Love Away with a black eye was clumsy, if not crass. That was one of two points where the songs moved away from performances and became narrative and neither of them worked. It was just odd for them to start doing it when everything else was performance. The other jarring note were the notes of the synthesised strings. Yuk.

Kara is very good, as is the whole cast. Some of the wigs are questionable. Overall a good night.

It’s too long but I thought this was great!

Kara Lily Hayworth singing "Anyone Who Had a Heart" was also my highlight. Just exquisite, and worth the trip just to hear that.

Still, this is an odd one, given that Cilla isn't the show's main character, probably not even the second most important character, which is poor Brian Epstein, constantly engaged by his closeted battle with fists that kiss.

(Spoilers follow. . .)

Of course, the main character is Bobby, who has all the narrative challenges, with Cilla a somewhat whiny obstacle for him to overcome in his quest to become a kind, generous and all round wonderful guy.

I mean, Cilla doesn't even know there are obstacles in the way of her getting more money for her first performances, as noble Bobby digs deep into his own pockets to ease her every desire. And boy does he desire her, though God knows why, cos the thanks he gets from her is to demote him to number 2 manager (below Epstein) and then unthinkingly tell him to get out of her line of sight, while she records a song. Of course, Bobby is dealing with the death of his father, yet he acquiesces to every demand of his desired Diva, cheers on Cilla, despite her problems being nothing but petty, sacrifices his own ambitions, and ultimately wins the heart of his Princess.

Compared to the inspiring portrayal of the heroic Tina Turner at the Aldwych, Cilla is a total brat who lucks her way through her entire life, while Bobby and Brian suffer and work their way through real challenges. I cannot believe the real Cilla would have been OK with this story lol!

Also, compared to Tina the Musical, so little thought has gone into dramatising the songs, which are mostly just concert appearances. The laziness, but also the genius, of this approach is compounded by throwing in songs by the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Mamas and the Papas, all just so songs we know and love can be trotted out in undramatised, yet thoroughly entertaining concert performances lol.

Kara Lily Hayworth enchanted the heck out of me, singing "Anyone who had a Heart" with power and grace, but the only one who has a heart in this story is lovely Bobby, and Carl Au is FANTASTIC as Bobby, self-effacing and funny in the lighter scenes, vulnerable and heartfelt in the weightier ones, and every bit Hayworth's equal in his lovely duet with Cilla, "You've lost that Loving Feeling."

Anyway, despite this being the jukeboxiest jukebox show ever, thanks to Au's great performance, and thanks to all those unearned but superb concert numbers, "Bobby the Musical" proves to be a thoroughly entertaining show!

3 and a half stars.

I’m pretty sure she authorised the Sheridan Smith tv drama that this musical is based upon. And her son authorised the musical.  


ETA her son Robert Willis is executive producer. 

At the Albert Hall tonight they said this is going to the West End!

Going back out on tour, August - December 2018.

So this tour is still going on after what feels like years even though it has only toured for just over a year. It is still touring until December, with the website saying further venues to be announced.

Whatever happened to the rumours of it going into town? I could see it playing well in a theatre like the Piccadilly for a limited run or something.

Wow this will be insane! I wonder what theatre it will be

I just hope she isn't taking on too much, as she will have a new baby by then, which could be very stressful for her (or maybe not, who knows!).