Step Inside, Love for a lorra star quality

Cilla, New Theatre, Cardiff

CILLA Black was such a comforting presence on TV while I was growing up. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that before she became the face of ’90s telly dating and family reunions she had had a hugely successful music career.

Cilla – The Musical is the stage adaptation of the Bafta-nominated ITV biographical drama from 2014, written by Jeff Pope. It’s the story of young Priscilla White, a Liverpudlian teenager who dreams of stardom. From a job in the cloakroom at the famous Cavern Club, to a number-one-selling artist and TV star, a major name of the Brit-pop and Merseybeat scene of the ’60s… long before she became known as a presenter on Saturday-night TV.

The first act suffers as jukebox musicals often do – there might be too many songs, and the show’s first half plays like a succession of musical numbers with short scenes in between. But the problem rights itself in the second half, with the show having more of a musical feel, scenes more fleshed out as Cilla, Bobby and Brian Epstein’s lives go through their dramas; and Cilla and Bobby even get to duet for You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling.

Selling the musical as a whole is Kara Lily Hayworth as Cilla. She has big shoes to fill – not only is she playing the late national treasure herself, she’s also following Sheridan Smith’s acclaimed performance in the ITV drama. Rest assured, she is fantastic – you can really hear Cilla in her voice (singing and talking), but it’s not like watching an impersonation. Her singing is superb, and I challenge anyone not to experience spine tingles when she sings Anyone Who Had a Heart.

Carl Au, as Bobby, has a sweet voice, and Andrew Lancel, formerly of Coronation Street, unexpectedly sings as the tragic figure of Brian Epstein, and there’s no weak link in the rest of the cast, including the musicians.

If you watched the TV biopic all the scenes are there – Cilla waiting at the telephone box, Burt Bacharach making her record multiple takes of Alfie.

You’ll love this musical if this is your era; you’ll also love it if, like me, you miss seeing Cilla on TV.

Chris Williams