Do I love you, my oh my!
Posted on 13 June 2018
Rarely have I been as excited as I was when asked to cover Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Not that I had a vested interest in Tina Turner or her music (which very rapidly changed after leaving the Aldwych Theatre) but more so that I knew the story of her life, or at least I thought I did.
The opening act is Tina sitting in the lotus position, reciting her mantra. The closing scene is the same. And sorry folks, but no more spoilers. The show comes full circle and takes the audience on a magical mystery tour that no member of the Beatles could compare to. Indeed my companion for the evening muttered in my ear after the very first number had finished ‘If I close my eyes I am at a Tina Turner concert’ such is the uncanny likeness of Adrienne Warren to Ms Turner. Due applause must be given, make no mistake this is an exhausting role – hit after hit being belted out and dance numbers aplenty. Ms Warren displayed the changing and somewhat dissolving colours of Tina’s life with skill and ease.
The story is much as you would expect – the life that Anna Mae Bullock journeyed on. Her marriage to Ike, (it is difficult not to speak about Kobna Holdbrook-Smith without a degree of well-deserved hyperbole) her relationship with her family and her relationship with Erwin Bach (sublimely portrayed by Gerard McCarthy). The songs that are well known are shown off, We Don’t Need Another Hero, Proud Mary, Simply the Best and the lesser known songs are also neatly woven into the show. Added to that a stellar, likeable cast makes this show a joy to watch and to some degree participate in, everyone can draw parallels.
Tina is a show that will entertain everyone. It is rare to hear such a comment and I can wholeheartedly confirm that it is very well deserved, this time with no degree of hyperbole!
Tina is currently booking until February 2019, you can get your tickets here.
