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Theater Review: 'Backbeat' At The Ahmanson

Katie Buenneke |
February 2, 2013 | 4:25 p.m. PST

Theater Editor

"Backbeat" tells the tale of the early days of the Beatles. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
"Backbeat" tells the tale of the early days of the Beatles. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
The Beatles. John, Paul, George, and Ringo. An iconic quartet.

But those four didn't always make up the famed rock group—Pete Best was their first drummer (he would later be replaced by Ringo Starr), and Stuart Sutcliffe was their bassist, while Paul played lead guitar.

"Backbeat," playing at the Ahmanson through March 1, and the American premiere of the U.K. production, follows the formative era of the Beatles, mostly focusing on their residency in Hamburg, Germany, where they really developed their distinct sound in grueling six-hour sets at clubs throughout the city. John (Andrew Knott) and Paul (Daniel Healy) are already bickering, though it's still mostly good-natured, while George (Daniel Westwick) hopes that no one will notice he's underage. Pete (Oliver Bennett) thinks he's the star of the group, but Stu (Nick Blood) is torn between being a part of the Beatles and his two other loves in life: painting, and Astrid (Leanne Best).

Under David Levaux's direction, the boys of the Beatles really come to life as just that—boys, experiencing the multitude of difficulties that seem so monumental to young adults. Given their iconic status, it can be difficult to realize that, once upon a time, the Beatles were people too, and "Backbeat" succeeds in humanizing them.

The show is rather conceptual, which unfortunately does not work as well as it could. Throughout the show, there are media projections of the actual Beatles, moving pieces of scenery, etc. While they sometimes add to the show, more often than not, they become distracting, and it is unclear where the audience's focus is supposed to be.

Designer Andrew D. Edwards effectively creates a very specific environment at the Ahmanson, filling it with haze and making the audience feel like they are really in an underground club in Germany in the early sixties. Richard Brooker's booming sound design adds to this feeling, doing the best it can in the cavernous theater.

All in all, "Backbeat" is an enjoyable exploration of the Beatles' formative years, and proves quite edifying for casual fans of the group.

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"Backbeat" is playing at the Ahmanson Theatre (135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles) through March 1. Tickets are $20-$110. More information can be found at CenterTheatreGroup.org.



 

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