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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Cher Show Also see Gil's review of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Starting with a modern day Cher singing "If I Could Turn Back Time," the plot pretty much has Cher doing just that as she looks back at the decades of her career, touching on her rise to fame, her personal relationships, and her professional reinventions. While the show has a few intriguing moments, particularly around the discrimination Cher faced at a young age and Sonny Bono's selfishly centered financial dealings with their company, there isn't much new information that even any passing fan of Cher will learn. It is also difficult not to sense Cher's own influence on the project in Rick Elice's book, as she's consistently presented in an overwhelmingly positive light with any conflicts and complications that might have added greater dramatic depth smoothed over or downplayed. For example, despite the mostly negative way Bono is depicted in the musical, the show still portrays his relationship with Cher with a lingering affection, emphasizing Cher's continued love and appreciation for him even after the dissolution of both their marriage and television partnership, and the financial hardships he put her through. Fortunately, the three women who play Cher are fantastic. Lynzee Foreman, Audrey Button, and Dani Kucera, aptly named Star, Lady, and Babe, respectively, all bring distinct qualities to their portrayals while delivering performances with a shared continuity to effectively depict Cher at different stages in her life. All three have fantastic singing voices that soar; they also do a commendable job capturing Cher's instantly recognizable speaking cadence and dry wit without ever descending into caricature. Foreman usually plays Lady, but was on for Star the night I attended, with Button, who is usually in the ensemble, playing Lady; their performances were so authentic that you'd have no idea it was their first time playing the roles (Garbrielle Gore usually plays Star.) Kucera is a firecracker as the younger Cher with a dynamic stage presence. The actors who play Cher's two husbands fare less successfully. Sonny Bono in particular is written as something of a punching bag, frequently blamed for Cher's financial frustrations and professional limitations, and Adam Marino's performance is more caricature than homage. Greg Allman similarly comes across as underdeveloped, functioning more as a required plot point than as a fully realized person and while Jeffrey Kelly is good in the role, it's written as a two-dimensional character which offers little opportunity to create a nuanced portrayal. Carolyn McPhee is wonderful as Cher's no-nonsense mother and Harrison Asher Smith oozes warmth and a lovely sense of friendship in his depiction of designer Bob Mackie. Jack Romero is great in two smaller roles, and the hard-working ensemble play a few smaller characters and deliver the energetic dance steps in style. Kurtis Overby's direction keeps the show moving at an energetic pace, while Mark 4man's music direction ensures the notes from the cast and the eight-piece orchestra sound polished and full. Overby's choreography is varied and vibrant, adding pops of visual excitement throughout. Douglas A. Clarke's set design, though largely static, is impressive, with a two-tiered structure that effectively frames the action, while the lighting design by Aaron Bowersox delivers rich, warm tones for the dramatic scenes and a heightened theatricality to the musical numbers. The costumes by Morgan Andersen are colorful and period perfect, with many looks beautifully echoing Bob Mackie's legendary designs for Cher. While the structure of The Cher Show occasionally feels less like a fully developed musical and more like a concert biography strung together with scenes, it still makes for a fairly enjoyable theatrical tribute. Thanks to the talent, charisma, and vocal power of the three women portraying Cher, Arizona Broadway Theatre's production delivers a fun and often amusing celebration of this enduring superstar. The Cher Show runs through May 31, 2026, at Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 West Paradise Lane, Peoria AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.azbroadway.org or call 623-776-8400. Director/Choreographer: Kurtis Overby Cast: |
