The Cher Show (Chicago)

"These actors deliver a powerhouse trio of performances worthy of Cher herself...'The Cher Show' does precisely what it's intended to do and does it well: captures the spirit of a determined and unique artist who rose to the top...While some of the scenes in Elice's book seem clunky, the emotions at the core feel authentic...Fares less well in the moments in which it breaks the fourth wall...The narrative succeeds in connecting the many terrific and iconic songs in Cher's catalog to the story... Full Review

"Works on nearly every level. There is a bit of refining still to be done by book writer Rick Elice and director Jason Moore...Stepping into the triad role of Cher are three distinct and ridiculously talented actresses...Nearly stealing the show, however, are the impossibly stunning costumes of Bob Mackie...What emerges from 'The Cher Show' is the portrait of an artist." Full Review

"Elice hasn't yet found a solid dramatic arc...She was a star by 21. Her post-stardom valleys are somewhat glossed over—but, then again, that gloss is pretty spectacular...Setting the show within the framework of a variety show is a smart move...Under Moore's direction, the Chers deliver her signature sarcasm, take-no-shit assertiveness, razor-sharp intelligence...The show's strengths are fourfold: Its music, costumes, choreography and its allegiance to Cher." Full Review

"It didn’t highlight all her achievements...Of course, how much can be shown in one musical that is already more than two hours thirty minutes?...Playing their vocally demanding roles with an expertise that is sure to please Cher fans are Micaela Diamond, Teal Wicks, and Stephanie J. Block...Directed by Jason Moore, the show is almost ready for Broadway. That is almost because the beginning and ending appear a bit confused and weak." Full Review

"The three personalities are constantly able to speak to each other at any given time and have a ghost of Christmas past, present, and future to their interactions. As this is a pre-Broadway run, there are certainly still kinks to work out and I wonder if maybe that isn’t one of them. It’s an interesting idea, but one that sort of got weird at times. However, I will say that being able to harmonize with the exact same character had to have been really neat. The acting itself is fantastic." Full Review

"These ladies can all sing and act, and what makes the story-telling work is that the three alter-egos help each other to make it through some of the hardest parts of their life...I loved the projections and the feeling that we were indeed eavesdropping on the making of the documentary and of course, the amazing costumes were by Bob Mackie...The ensemble is important to a show such as this because of the dance numbers and the ease of movement." Full Review

"Captures a good amount of the vibrant personality and genuinely admirable perseverance that make Cher the ultimate celebrity survivor...The real star of the show, though, turns out not to be the stars of the show, nor the music, but Bob Mackie’s costume...But costumes can carry a show only so far. And here’s the tricky thing: what’s good about this show also happens to be what’s not great about it. It’s funny but not that funny, clever but never interesting." Full Review

"You know a Broadway-bound tuner isn't Broadway-ready when the costumes elicit more sustained and effusive applause than the musical numbers...Musically, the show is solid thanks to its skilled stars...Unfortunately the overlong, inconsistent 'Cher Show' needs some tailoring, beginning with the conceit that drives the first act and is all but abandoned in the second...A pleasant spectacle that shortchanges fans by delivering abbreviated versions of the hits." Full Review

"Most celebrity-driven jukebox shows settle for belting out the hits...Others are more ambitious, focusing on intense emotional engagement. 'The Cher Show' will work only if it does both. And in order to do either, it first will need to lose its outer frame....And if the needless fictional show were nixed, that would come with an additional benefit: The Chers would get more agency in telling their own collective story. And this is the era of agency...They don’t roar as they should." Full Review

"I’d suggest its producers jettison their plans for any future Broadway run and simply drop the show down on a stage in Vegas, which is where it belongs...The show comes with a surprisingly perfunctory, often clunky book by Elice, and with pedestrian direction by Moore and choreography by Gattelli. It makes all the predictable stops...The most winning aspect of the show is how three different actresses with powerful voices so deftly capture Cher at various stages of her life." Full Review