Fringe review: Come Together – The Beatles Rock Show
This uplifting hour of well-known Beatles tunes is delivered with theatrical flair, musical punch and, importantly, feeling. It’s not just a tribute show but also great entertainment. ★★★★★
'Come Together – The Beatles Rock Show' is full of infectious and fresh arrangements. Photo: Supplied
Nostalgia will only get you so far. So, what does the Come Together crew, with singer Rachel Vidoni at the centre, add to selections from The Beatles’ famous catalogue of hits? This vital production offers an engrossing performance full of infectious and fresh arrangements. You’ll want to dance.
A warm version of “Something” picked up pace before a driving take on “Get Back” and a high-energy medley of nearly a dozen familiar if abbreviated tunes rendered with lots of smiles between the band members. After barely 10 minutes of such charged delivery, one might wonder how it could be sustained, but the allotted hour proved that it could.
The band, all in black, was ranged behind a low partition of Yellow Submarine-era floral design. The dynamic Vidoni was often accompanied by dancers Rachel Dulski and Maddie Macarthur, with their synchronised go-go-style flourishes. Her voice and wonderful control were always compelling, and her friendly audience engagement excellent.
The set list mixed powerful and more laidback tunes. “Hey Jude”, with superb backing vocals from Emily Isaacs and Kylie Ferreira, became a sing-along, of course. “Strawberry Fields” slowed things down briefly before a supercharged ending and then the calm of “Yesterday”.
There were no low points in this full-on hour of Beatles music, though some tunes shone more than others. Highlights included “Come Together”, heralded with swirling lights and dizzying guitar from Ben Whittington. The audience didn’t need much encouragement to join in the chorus of “Help”, and “Daytripper” was exhilarating. “The End” was, of course, the end.
Drummer Kyle Sambell, who even broke part of his kit during the set, was exemplary throughout and there was talent to spare with Lee Nash on bass and Russell James on keyboards. Props and a flurry of costume changes for Vidoni and the dancers added colour.
It’s challenging to present good production values in a tent show but Come Together – The Beatles Rock Show does it in an innovative way with the performers thoroughly enjoying themselves. You will, too.
Come Together – The Beatles Rock Show is being presented until March 5 in The Virago at Gluttony.
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