š Walk Right Back
š New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1QG
š Sunday 27th October 2024
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FULL-THROTTLE NOSTALGIA
After recently completing another successful tour of Canada WALK RIGHT BACK is back on home ground and has gone straight into a UK tour, bringing the story and the music of The Everly Brothers to theatres across the country.
Known for their trademark "Harmonies from Heaven" Don and Phil Everly were pioneers of music combining elements of rock and roll, country and pop to create many hits including All I Have To Do Is Dream, Wake Up Little Suzie and Cathy's Clown to name just a few.
WALK RIGHT BACK seems to have created a brand-new genre of theatre! It's so much more than a tribute act, but at the same time it's not a jukebox musical! The story is narrated by Luke Wilson and James Hudson who perform the lead vocals and recreate the iconic sound of the brothers. They narrate the story as themselves and their passion for the music and the story comes across in spades.
The commitment by the entire company to recreate the sound accurately is astonishing. There is a real authenticity to the music and the vocals from the lads are absolutely incredible. As Don Everly Hudson has a strong and graceful tone to his voice, giving the required stability needed to anchor these musical masterpieces. Wilson delivers Phil Everly's high harmonies with angelic divine precision which inspires awe from the audience who listen with appreciation. Close your eyes and it really could be The Everly Brothers performing on the stage.
Wilson and Hudson are a formidable duo with their vocals blending beautifully. The control they both have is not only spellbinding but gives depth and a warmth to the songs which is unparalleled by a lot of performers. They obviously care about these songs and this story and that really comes across.
The narrative follows the brothers from their early days singing with their parents as The Everly Family, through their struggles to get noticed, their first hit record Bye Bye Love in 1957 and their fiery feud, which led to Phil dramatically walking off stage mid-concert, onto their reconciliation after 10 years of estrangement.
The talking between the songs is well scripted, often amusing and informative and never feels like it's dragging or detracting from the music. The camaraderie between Wilson and Hudson is joyous to watch and it almost feels as if we've been invited round to a friend's house to talk all things Everly! The relationship between the two is even more impressive when you learn that Hudson has only recently joined the cast and the show at Wimbledon was only his sixth performance with the production.
Each member of the WALK RIGHT BACK company are simply outstanding and the show can arguably boast at having some of the best musicians touring the UK right now. Tom Wright is impressive on lead guitar, with his talents being tested as he leads the band in tributes to Chet Atkins and Albert Lee with his lightening fast fingers creating euphoria across the gleeful auditorium. Wright also performs as Buddy Holly and as someone who is very picky about their Buddy impersonations having been a fan of his music since I was 8, I have to say he absolutely nailed it. Raining In My Heart is a very special song to me and Wright performed it with heartfelt meaning, giving the song the clarity and gravitas it deserves.
Curtis Lavender was in charge of the keys but also stepped forward to give a sensational performance as Roy Orbison, much to the delight of everyone in attendance. Orbison had such a unique voice and Lavender competently captures his tone and the essence of him with seemingly effortless ease. It was great to hear him perform Ooby Dooby, one of Orbison's lesser known songs but one of my favourites!
The line-up is completed by Chris Webb on drums and Peter Ravenhill on Bass, both obviously highly accomplished and the energy that each of them brings to the performance is contagious.
Whilst Act 1 really focuses on the brothers rise to fame and follows their story until their dramatic split, Act 2 has more of a concert feel about it. The narrative is still there but the focus of this part of the performance is their reunion concert at the Royal Albert Hall. It also featured Wilson and Hudson perform Ebony Eyes, perhaps one of the saddest yet greatest songs ever written, with such elegance that the audience just sat and listened in hushed awe, before erupting in well deserved praise at its conclusion.
The way in which this show is presented means that you don't have to have been a child of the 1960s or even know too much about The Everly Brothers themselves to enjoy it. The story is engaging from start to finish and it's a real pleasure to witness musicians of such high calibre perform.
WALK RIGHT BACK is absolute perfection and is a fun-filled night of nostalgia which you don't want to end. Simply put, this production is one of the best one night touring shows you will ever experience and you're guaranteed to leave on a high. Even elements such as the lighting, set design and sound have been well thought through and each add something special to the production, as do the costumes and the audio visual elements.
The show is playing dates across the UK well into 2025. Click here to head to the show website where you can check out all their tour dates and book tickets. I'm already planning my next visit!
Neill Kovacic-Clarke
All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.
My ticket for this performance of Walk Right Back was gifted by the Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.
CAST LIST:
Luke Wilson - Lead Vocals / Guitar
James Hudson - Lead Vocals / Guitar
Tom Wright - Lead Guitar / Vocals
Curtis Lavender - Keyboards / Guitar / Vocals
Chris Webb - Drums
Peter Ravenhill - Bass
RUNNING TIME (approx):
2 hours 50 minutes, including interval
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