REVIEW: Stand By Me at The Kings Theatre, Southsea

Stand by Me '“ a revue featuring the songs of Ben E King and The Drifters, another tribute band to review, I thought.

But I got a pleasant surprise at the Kings Theatre.

This is a fast paced musical which takes you from The Drifters beginnings in the early ’50s, through their various line-ups, trials and tribulations (including the draft, and being arrested as bank robbers), up to their induction in the Hall of Fame in the ’80s.

The show uses an unseen narrator, and cleverly blends The Drifters classics like Under the Boardwalk, There Goes My First Love and Up on The Roof, along with music from the various decades the show travels through.

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A simple stage set allowed the cast to focus on The Drifters trademark close harmonies, and the four leads did this to perfection.

Whether solo or in harmony, their singing was fabulous.

Supported by a first class band, they had the audience on its feet and singing along – me included!

JULIE RICH

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