Backbeat

Andrew Knott as John Lennon and Daniel Healy as Paul McCartney. Photo by Nobby Clark.

The phenomenon known as Beatlemania, synonymous with screaming young girls, began when four lads from Liverpool—John, Paul, George and Ringo—set foot on American soil in 1964. But how did the Beatles come to be, and what course of events led them to worldwide stardom? These questions, and more, are answered in Backbeat, now playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. You may think you know the whole story behind the Beatles, but this production is full of surprises, heartbreak, and, of course, rock and roll.

The first few scenes transport the audience back to the Beatles’ beginnings in Liverpool, in 1960. Although bespectacled and sporting a pompadour hairstyle, John Lennon (played by Andrew Knott) is instantly recognizable as the aggressive and highly intelligent leader of the group. His good friend Paul McCartney (Daniel Healy) is much more soft-spoken, but similarly brilliant. George Harrison (Daniel Westwick) is the youngest of the three, but holds his own as a talented guitarist. Stuart Sutcliffe (Nick Blood) is a brilliant painter who is clearly headed for fame as an artist, at least until Lennon shows up at his house and convinces him to be part of the “Quarrymen,” who Sutcliffe later renames the “Beatles.” Although Sutcliffe isn’t the greatest musician, Lennon insists to the rest of the band that he “looks cool,” and so he stays. The group is rounded out by drummer Pete Best (Oliver Bennett), who is later fired and replaced by Ringo Starr (Adam Sopp). These five men make up the early form of the Beatles, and after proving themselves in Liverpool, head to Hamburg, Germany, where a sequence of events takes place that will shape their lives forever.

Upon arriving in Hamburg, reality sets in when the group discovers that they are expected to play six hours a night, every night, and their living quarters consist of one bedroom behind a movie theatre screen. They persevere, however, amidst the various brawls and disruptions that happen during their performances at different venues in Hamburg. As the group is performing one evening, a young photographer—Astrid Kirchherr (Isabella Calthorpe)—wanders into the club and into Sutcliffe’s heart. Bonding over their artistic interests, the two begin a romance that slowly pulls Sutcliffe away from the Beatles, who are quickly rising to the top. Their time in Hamburg, however, is cut short as George Harrison is revealed to be 17 (underage), and the group is deported back to England.

Backbeat is a fast-paced, edgy production that focuses on the intense relationships between both the well-known, and the forgotten influences behind the Beatles. McCartney’s scenes with Lennon are mesmerizing to watch, specifically the scene in which they hilariously collaborate on the pleading in “Love Me Do,” their first hit. Astrid and Stuart are passionate in their romantic scenes, leaving the audience devastated at the tragic twist to their story. The absolute highlight of Backbeat, however, is the music. Well-known songs such as “Rock and Roll Music,” “Twist and Shout,” and “PS I Love You” are just some of the outstanding performances performed by the cast who have mastered every quirk and movement of the original band members. Stay tuned after the final curtain (and standing ovation) for three more musical performances that bring audience members out of their seats to dance.

Backbeat runs until September 2nd at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Visit mirvish.com for more information and to buy tickets.