This season of touring Broadway shows at my local theater has been full of wonderfully entertaining musical biopics. The last three of four productions fall under this genre of musical theater. While it is fun to see these figures of the music industry brought to life through their stories of trials and tribulations, after a while they begin to follow the same formula.
The Cher Show follows the life of Cher. Because she had a full career over many decades, instead of having the same actress play the singular character, three women take on the role of the icon. All of these women speak to each other throughout the show, helping us understand what was going through the mind of Cher better. The biggest hits from the artist at all moments of her life are featured in this jukebox musical that make for some amazing dance sequences, heartbreaking audition scenes and fun for anyone vaguely familiar with her songs.
The issue that comes up a lot for me with musical biopics is the story. It seems to get lost in favor of squeezing in as many songs as possible. We get the highlights of their lives without diving deeper into the nitty gritty aspects that come along with fame. This seems to be the standard format to follow, making the plot slightly stale as you can expect what is going to happen next. I was not too familiar with Cher’s rise to fame, but I figured out how it was going to play out based on shows I have seen in the past. However, there is a twist that makes the story more compelling to follow — having three actresses play Cher.
Morgan Scott, Catherine Ariale, and Ella Perez are the embodiment of Cher, nailing everything about her from her iconic voice to her star-powered personality. Scott plays Star (present-day Cher) and every time she is on stage I thought the real Cher had joined us for a song. This is the version of Cher I am most familiar with; I would have believed I was at a Cher concert because of how perfectly Scott is in this role. Ariale as Lady (middle Cher) makes herself known with her standout voice and perfect comedic timing. Finally, Perez is Babe (young Cher), a timid young girl just trying to make it big doing what she loves most, sticking up for herself along the way. This is the second time each of these ladies are playing their respective roles on the National Tour and it is no surprise they were asked to continue. It is hard to pick which one is my favorite because they are each so unique with their performances even though they are all playing the same person.
The Cher ladies are supported by one of the most energetic casts, which is perfect to help tell the story of Cher. Frankie Marasa 5th as Sonny Bono is one that comes to mind instantly. All I knew about Sonny was that he sang songs with Cher under the “Sonny and Cher” name. I had no idea about their comedy act, his abusive tendencies, or how her ran for political office later in his career. Marasa is another example of how perfect he was in this role. After the show, I looked up videos of Sonny and Cher and could not tell the difference between the two Sonnys. The ensemble is also a standout part of the show. They bring their all to the stage in dance sequences that are permanently etched into my brain while adding to the comedic bits that elevate the show to another level. If there was no ensemble numbers, there would not have been a show.
While there is nothing too unique about the sets and production design — with screens and simple pieces being brought on and off stage — the costumes are there to pick up the pieces. Everything worn on Cher to the ensemble is a work of art that deserves all of the praise. There are pieces that are so vibrant I should have been wearing sunglasses, some that leave little to the imagination, and simple outfits that mirror the tender moments Cher is going through. The costumes are always perfectly matching the emotions being portrayed on stage. What characters wear has a bigger impact on the story than we may think, and without these stunning designs, we would have had a much different show.
I would recommend checking out The Cher Show if it comes to a theater near you. While the story follows a formula that has been done before, the performances draped in beautiful costumes will have your eyes glued to the stage, and you will drive home singing all of the hits from this wonderful, decades-impacting artist.
Theater: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory (Worcester, MA)
Original Broadway Production Tony Nominations and Wins: Best Actress in a Musical (Stephanie J. Block); Best Costume Design of a Musical (Bob Mackie); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams)
