RAIN, A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES
Reviewed by Carol Kaufman Segal

I have to say "Wow, what a great night of entertainment!" That is Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles, which recently opened at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Though it is performed indoors, screens on each side of the stage and in the center behind the performers add to the ambience and feel of being at a concert watching the Beatles in their heyday. The phenomenal lighting and staging also add to the excitement of the production. Rain consists of very talented performers impersonating the Beatles and sounding exactly like them. And thanks to wigs and costumes, they even look like them. If it were not for the fact that it could not be so, it was as if we were watching the Beatles in person.
 
 The group includes Joey Curatolo (Paul), Steve Landes (John), Joe Bithorn (George) and Ralph Castelli (Ringo). Mark Beyer is an additional member, performing on keyboard and percussion. All five of them are phenomenal musicians. The more than two hour show (including intermission) consisted of about thirty songs. (They have a repertoire of over 200 Beatle songs!) Since I am not of the Beatle generation, and I was not as familiar with most of their music, I was somewhat taciturn about what my reaction would be to this show. It turned out that I did know more of their work than I realized I would. It also turned out to be one of the more entertaining and enjoyable evenings I could have spent. The audience was kept involved throughout by being asked to sing along, clap to the music, stand up and dance and wave their arms above their heads.
 
The energy of the show was felt by the entire packed house. Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 1 PM and 6:30 PM, through April 17, 2011, at the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. Tickets are available at the Pantages Theatre Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. For further information, check their website at www.BroadwayLA.org.

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