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FeedTuesday, May 20, 2008
Publisher's Pick
By Gary Whitaker
Next time you're stumped for a birthday gift, here's a suggestion: Tickets to the new Liverpool Legends show in Branson. The Beatles tribute show is now in its third season on the Branson strip, and due to its popularity has moved to bigger, better facilities. PFI's Randy Little, Bill Killian of Killian Construction and Justin Gage, the guy behind the new waterpark entertainment complex being built in Hollister, bought the Starlite Theatre (formerly home of the Lost in the 50s Show). The '50s are out, the '60s are in, and the four-man show (with a little help from a fifth friend on keyboards) has been revamped and updated to include witty wisecracks about Beatle wives Yoko Ono and Heather Mills. The show's executive producer, Louise Harrison, sister of late Beatle George Harrison, narrates over video sections of the show and the night we attended made a personal stage appearance at intermission to talk to the audience about her brother's rise to fame. But here is why it's a good birthday present: Midway through the show, as the Legends offer note-for-note samples from The White Album, they stop the show and ask for anyone in the audience celebrating a birthday to come on stage and join the band. They pass out tamborines and other percussion instruments and kick into "Birthday." ("You say it's your birthday. Well happy birthday to you. They say it's your birthday. It's my birthday too, yeah.") The band is so good, and look and sound so much like the originals, that it's easy to imagine you're onstage with the real thing. It's a definite high energy high point in the show.
If you think you or your friends might need a little liquid courage before jumping on stage with Beatles lookalikes, the concession stand at the Starlight can help. Remember, PFI's Randy Little is one of the owners. Never one to miss a marketing trick, the theatre now serves private label wine from PFI's Diamond Rudge Market. The early tunes get the show off to a fun start, but the band's real musicianship is showcased best in the "Sgt. Pepper" section, especially bassist (Davey Justice ) who plays Paul. My favorite parts of the show are when the Liverpool Legends play live versions of songs the Beatles only played in studio, like Pepper's "A Day in the Life" and Abbey Road's "The End". It's sad to think what Beatles fans missed when the band stopped touring. The Liverpool Legends Show helps answers some of those questions.
The theatre looks good, the band sounds great and the wine adds to the party. Make that "party party."
For tickets call 417-337-9333.
Gary Whitaker, publisher
Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 | Permalink
