Let It Be (Tour – Manchester)

Many people will have been waiting for a new, fitting musical to be written about the Beatles featuring their music; Let It Be is not it.

This is simply a couple of hours of an average covers band playing 40 of the Beatle’s greatest hits. There is no story, no plot and barely and dialogue. From the Cavern to the USA and right through their back catalogue and outfit choices, this is simply a tribute show.

It contains none of the back story of the Fab Four, none of the history of what went on within the group like the Jersey Boys, neither does it attempt to take the songs and craft a story round them a la Mamma Mia! There is plenty of opportunity to get to your feet and clap and sing along, but even the audience seems to grow a little tired of this in places. After all, they could simply listen to an album like "Revolver."

There is no doubting that the cast of five work tirelessly for the duration, they do have a look of the Beatles and it is a pleasure to see the cast play all of the instruments, but it is simply not enough to justify calling this a musical.

The songs are just as good as they ever were and there is no doubting that it is a joy to hear them performed so well. Tim McQuillen-Wright's Set design is neat and the screens are a nice touch although perhaps not necessary. The highlight of Act One is "Eleanor Rigby" and this track really stands out as a performance piece. Act Two takes the audience through the deeper more mature musical created by the Beatles as their careers progressed.

Beatles tribute bands have been around for a while and arguably there are some better ones out there than this ensemble. This show could have been so much more and offers little in the way of making even more of these songs and such a broad back catalogue to go at. It is entertaining and fun but paper thin and really does not do the Beatles justice. I'd see the Bootleg Beatles instead.

Let It Be runs until 8 March and tours the UK.

– Ruth Lovett