After a sold-out performance of RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles, the audience was left dancing in the aisles to the timeless music of the Fab Four.

RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles is a note for note precision, full blown Beatles concert that packs many excerpts and full songs into the show. The shows stars Steve Landes, Paul Curatolo, Alastar McNeil, Dylan Verge, and Mark Beyer. Landes is a Philadelphia local who joined Beatlemania as a child and rocks the rhythm guitar, harmonica, piano and performs vocals just like George Harrison during this show. Curaltolo plays the bass, piano and guitar, and also performs vocals during the show. He doesn’t look especially like Paul McCartney but he pulls off every detail of mimicking him, down to learning to play the bass left-handed - it’s amazing to watch. Verge performs as Ringo Starr on drums, percussion and vocals; a life-long Beatles fan who pours his heart into every beat. McNeil plays John Lennon with the charisma, vocals and lead guitar that everyone loves, and lastly Beyer, who is the unofficial fifth Beatle (Fab Five?) who fills in any keyboard and percussion gaps. These men are truly mind- blowing as the Beatles and are not to be missed!

There is a lot of audience interaction but few interactions between band members or about band members, and because the script is limited, the audience can focus on the amazing music.

In addition to the music, the costumes (based on real Beatles costumes) are incredible, especially those worn for the groovy St. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. The staging is much like what one would have seen in a stadium tour, and the lighting is fantastical and psychedelic with a laser light show that dazzles the audience.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Jamie Flowers

RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles is part of the Ensemble Arts 2023-24 Broadway tour and is only in Philadelphia until 11 May before moving on with its North American tour. For more info, please click here.