Show: ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It – A Tribute to Tina Turner
Location: Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Date: Wednesday, 24th March 2022
Time: 19.30
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Age Rating: 14+
Production: Cuffe and Taylor, in association with Paul Roberts Productions.
Introduction
What’s Love Got to Do With It? This was a joyous show, celebrating the wonderful music of Miss Tina Turner. It arrived mid-week at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton to a packed audience. This is the third year of the very successful UK tour, launched in 2019. The show is produced by the award winning team Cuffe and Taylor, in association with Paul Roberts Productions.
The Show
The amazing vocal talent of Elesha Paul Moses makes for a stunning Tina Turner. She demonstrated iconic Tina dance moves and vocal intonation. I mentioned to my partner that at times she seemed to slip into a Whitney style vocal and this was confirmed. Upon checking the website, Elesha has also starred in well-respected Whitney tribute performances.
The show opened with a full five-piece backing band and two very energetic support dancers and singers. The audience was a little startled when it appeared Tina’s microphone wasn’t working and the backing singers were alone. This was remedied just before the end of the first number, so no harm done. Apart from that blip, the sound and vision values of the show – the lighting, choreography and costume changes were all first class.
Engaging
Elesha was very personable, stayed in character throughout and had the audience in the palm of her outstretched hands. There was sustained energy from all performers throughout both the first half and second half of the show. Absolute non-stop singing and dancing. An audience-participation section during Mashed Potato was a lot of fun and audience member Dave, performed a great solo during the number!
Special mention must go to the musicians and musical direction. So, there were key solo pieces from saxophonist and percussion performer, Kit and lead guitar, Rob. However the keyboard, bass and drums were also absolutely brilliant. The two backing singers/dancers were so good, they were a little distracting, often in front of the stage. Indeed, they even both had a solo slot that they performed magnificently!
Easy on the Eye
We had the expected costume changes throughout the performance. Fringed sexy short dresses to open the show, then a beautiful slinky gold gown – Hollywood style for Bond’s Goldeneye. We had Thunderdome ‘We don’t need another Hero’ silver chain mail and huge shoulder pads and more big hit Tina staples that the audience sang along to.
The second half continued with a further costume change, appropriately shimmy style to perform Private Dancer. This led to What’s Love Got To Do With It? And River Deep. So, the crowd were on their feet and dancing in the aisles to Nutbush City Limit. And there must be a few sore throats this morning after the roof of the Floral nearly lifted off to Simply The Best.
Analysis
What’s Love Got To Do With It? A Tribute To Tina Turner is a musical feast of song and dance fit for any lover of soul music and Tina Turner. So, get ready for a fabulous night of fun, song and dance with stunning performances and quality entertainment from start to encore. You simply won’t be disappointed!
