I don't think I have seen so many smiling faces at Houston's Hobby Center since the last time I attended a Mamma Mia! production there. The audience was comfortably seated at the outset of The Cher Show (directed by Casey Hushion), but fans would be on their feet and dancing in the aisles by show's end. The opening number, "If I Could Turn Back Time," offers a question that would be superbly answered throughout this show, which seemed to do exactly that for all the devoted fans assembled. It was a fitting predictor of things to come when the first lavish Bob Mackie costume had the diva prepared to rise like an eagle. That she would do.
But she would not be alone, as this cleverly constructed retrospective (book by Rick Elice) of the legendary star's life features not just one, but three Chers, with each focusing on a different phase of Cher's life. Arriving first on stage, the contemporary Cher of our present day is appropriately named, "Star," and is beautifully played (and sung) by Morgan Scott. The mature heyday of the brilliant performer's mid-career period is skillfully represented by the fine performance of Catherine Ariale as the Cher named "Lady." Meanwhile, the youthful Cher of her early years is named "Babe," and is nicely played by Ella Perez.
It's an unusual imaginary mingling of three points of view, but somehow it works. It must also be said that all three Chers had splendid voices, as the show moved delightfully through such familiar musical hits as, “Be My Baby,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “I Like It Like That,” “I Got You Babe,” “Ain't Nobody's Business,” “Believe,” and countless others. And that was just Act One.
Along the way we, of course, meet Sonny, (Lorenzo Pugliese), Cher's husband, and longtime musical comedy partner with the "Sonny and Cher Show." Her romance with Gregg Allman has another nice performance from Mike Bindeman.
We even get to meet Cher's very involved mom, Georgia, in a sweet performance from Lucy Werner. The actress even doubles as Lucille Ball in a second role reflecting on how Miss Ball gave some friendly personal advice during Cher's marital problems. And before the show is over there is a segment acknowledging a three year affair with the handsome, and much younger boyfriend, Rob Camilletti, (Gary Paul Bowman), who was meanly nicknamed “Bagel Boy” by the tabloid press that hounded them, because he had worked in a New York bagel bakery.
There would be plenty more musical delights in Act Two with such hits as “All I Ever need is Love,” “Heart of Stone,” and “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves.” Mr. Bindeman offers a fine pairing of Allman's hits, “Midnight Rider” and “Ramblin' Man.” There's a colorfully staged “Just Like Jesse James,” with the look of a saloon in an old western movie, and it featured terrific dancing from the cast (choreographer, Antoinette Dipietropolo). Cher's relationship problems continue to be reflected in the music as Allman and Bono sing the ominous “Dark Lady,” and Sonny begs, “Baby Don't Go,” while Star and Lady respond with, “Strong Enough.”
The show has numerous, eye-popping numbers featuring the extravagant costume designs of Bob Mackie. And more than once the sensational dancing would remind one of the Broadway musical, A Chorus Line. The feathered fan chorus line would fit right in at the finest Las Vegas showrooms. Why not drop by and see for yourself?
