Step Behind The Stage
The Simon & Garfunkel Story
New Theatre, Peterborough - 06/11/24
Review by Daniel Marshall
The Simon & Garfunkel Story has become one of the most beloved musical productions around, selling out shows in over 50 countries worldwide, whilst putting on over 20 headline performances in London’s West End. With a songbook full of timeless classics, and Art Garfunkel himself having highly praised the show, my expectations going in were certainly high.
From the moment the opening number ‘The Sound of Silence’ began, it was clear those expectations would not only be met, but far exceeded. Joe Sterling as Paul Simon and Alex Bradshaw as Art Garfunkel embody one of music’s most beloved duos in an almost scarily accurate way. Their vocal work is sublime, harmonising with one another as if it were second nature. This is made even more impressive given that Sterling has only just returned to the cast.
The duo are joined on stage by a three-piece live band consisting of Nick Martin, Harry Denton, and Harrison White, each of whom bring the level of musicality that such iconic songs deserve.
Although what happens on stage is extraordinarily impressive, it is quite difficult to place the show neatly within one genre. For many productions this could be an issue, but the masterful writing and creative direction from Dean Elliott meant this actually became one of the show’s greatest strengths, and something that makes the experience so unique.
Sterling and Bradshaw embody Simon and Garfunkel so convincingly that you could almost view this as a tribute concert, however there is far too much informative dialogue for that label alone. On the other hand, the show does not present an acted-out narrative, making it hard to describe it as a musical. The best way I can describe it is as an immersive on-stage documentary, flawlessly telling the story of two musical icons.
The stage is backed by a stunning New York skyline, in front of which sits a large video screen. This screen shows cultural moments that surrounded the songs being performed, whilst also helping to timeline the journey of Simon and Garfunkel. This added to the informative feel of the production in a hugely effective way. It is quite amazing how something as simple as a screen can tie an entire show together, but it was this element that truly made the on-stage documentary concept work.
You had the extremely entertaining pairing of Sterling and Bradshaw helping you lose yourself in the music, whilst the clever videography from Z Frame ensured you were constantly learning something too. The two elements complemented each other perfectly, allowing for a fully immersive experience without ever feeling torn between screen and performer.
Much of this balance is also down to the lighting design by Darren Coopland, who guided the audience with an illuminated helping hand. There were moments where the screen remained fully lit while the band performed in darkness, allowing the cultural impact of these songs to truly land. At other times we were greeted by singular spotlights on the performers, letting the poignancy of the music resonate fully across the room.
By the time the show reached its end, I felt both informed and entertained, and it was clear from the deserved standing ovation that I was not alone in those feelings. It would be easy to dismiss the quality of this production by focusing solely on the fact that these are some of the greatest songs ever written, but the truth is that The Simon & Garfunkel Story breathes new life into music that has been heard countless times.
It gave a younger audience member like myself the chance to witness songs live that I would otherwise never experience, and it gave older audience members the chance to relive a true cultural shift.
Cast on the Night:
Joe Sterling – Paul Simon
Alex Bradshaw – Art Garfunkel
Nick Martin – Bass
Harrison White – Keyboards / Guitar
Harry Denton – Drums