Had
he lived John Lennon would be celebrating his 70th birthday and a lot
of people are filling up the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing
Arts of Miami-Dade County this weekend to see the legacy he and his
mates, John, George and Ringo, left the world.

The
four gentlemen from Liverpool came to, and conquered, the United States
In February of 1964 and stayed together as a group until 1970. This
tribute covers that period not only with their music but archives, shown
on two big TV sets, one on each end of the stage,  along with ads from
that period and all the major happenings of that decade from the man
walking on the moon to JFK being elected and assassinated, the protests
regarding the  Vietnam war and the 'peace, not war' movement,  with
their music, clothes and looks, reflecting the changes we went through.

On
stage, live, using their own voices and playing their own instruments,
David Leon as John, Joe Bologna as Ringo, Graham Alexander as Paul, Joe
Bithorn as George, along with Chris Smallwood adding his not so small
talent as a 'fifth' Beatle, recreate in sound and movement the Beatles
of the 60s. For the audience who never saw them on stage here is a
chance to experience to a certain degree what is was like while those
who had seen the group perform brought their memories with them.

There
were 18 songs sung in full plus 5 snippets of others in the first act
and 15 full songs plus another 5 snippets in the second act so you
hear/experience close to 43 songs from the 60s. The audience was a show
in itself singing along, waving arms, pumping fists and clapping along
as they were invited to do. Ages spanned the generations from teens to 
people in their 70s all engulfed in the time and music that will always
be a part of history.

Whereas
in the 60 and 70s when people were at a concert you would see people
holding up and waving lighted Zippos or Bics--as one guy tried to do at
this performance to no avail as too many people have given up smoking
and don't carry lighters--today it is the light of the cellphone. It is a
close decision as to which is more annoying: the ushers, walking up and
down the aisles, vigilantly trying to get people to not use their
cellphones and the audience members wanting to take pictures. The ushers
won until the end when too many people, during "Hey Jude", whipped the
phones out.

This
show is dedicated to the Beatles, and their music, in the 60s but it
was disappointing that no recognition was given to Lennon's birthday or
the 20th anniversary of his death in December. They probably won't get
away with that in New York City.

Running time is 2 hours and two minutes with a 24 minute intermission.

There are strobe lights used throughout the performance.

"Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles" will be in New York City October 19, 2010 to January 2, 2011.

www.raintribute.com

FUTURE SHOWS: "DREAMGIRLS"--THIS COMING TUESDAY

"BEAUTY AND THE BEAST", "JERSEY BOYS", "IN THE HEIGHTS"  "HAIR"

Review posted at www.corinescorner.com