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Review: Let It Be at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford

It’s crazy to think that more than half a century after they played their first gig, The Beatles are still packing out concert halls.

OK fine - maybe not the Fab Four themselves, but this is surely the closest you will get now.

And with everyone clapping along to classics - except those in the pricier seats who simply rattle their jewellery - it is clear this is more than just a trip down memory lane.

Let It Be (4796763)
Let It Be (4796763)

With Michael Gagliano as John, Emanuele Angeletti as Paul, John Brosnan as George and Ben Cullingworth as Ringo, the four come together flawlessly as a cohesive unit and are far more than nostalgic substitutes.

These four men - with or without the dodgy moptops - are musicians in their own rights.

Collectively, their harmonies and guitar solos are faultless and technically brilliant.

Lennon's acerbic wit is captured by the wonderful Michael Gagliano and Emanuele Angeletti echoes a young McCartney scarily accurately.

Let It Be (4796771)
Let It Be (4796771)

The first set takes the audience through the early days right through to the heights of Beatlemania, with the Royal Variety performance, Shea Stadium concert and Sgt Pepper era all recreated.

Four replica analogue televisions surround the stage, punctuating the act with 1960s adverts during costume changes, with the likes of Prell shampoo getting big laughs.

She Loves You, Help and Yesterday all make up the rich set list. With such a great back catalogue of hits, it must have been a real job to chose which to include and which to leave out.

Executing songs with sheer excellence, it would be totally unfair to label this a tribute act.

In a twist from the original Let It Be show, the second act is set a decade after The Beatles went their separate ways.

It pitches the idea of what it would have been like if the four came back together to perform together for one show.

Featuring more solo hits than Beatles songs, tunes such as Got My Mind Set On You, Live and Let Die and of course Imagine are played to perfection.

Proper rock and roll classics such as Roll Over Beethoven and Long Tall Sally are also played, giving a nod to legends who inspired The Beatles back in the day.

There are two types of people at these types of shows. The ones who sit in their seat and occasionally mouth the lyrics to themselves. And then there are those who, unapologetically, sing and dance. (edit: no prize for guessing which I fall under).

This show is in a class of its own, and it really is The Beatles concert you never got to see.

Let It Be is at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford until Saturday, October 20.

For tickets, visit orchardtheatre.co.uk

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