Though “The Australian Bee Gees Show” Š—ê which is currently gracing the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place Š—ê is a tribute concert in the traditional sense of the word, it can hardly be reduced to this one title. It is a barrage of sound, multimedia, history and vigor. Though the running time is brief and the theater is cozy, this production packs a punch that is hard to overlook.
Backed by a talented band and impressive stage design, musicians Matt Baldoni, Jack Leftley and Paul Lines portray the legendary Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb, respectively. The show is segmented into four parts that are divided thematically by musical era and visually by costume change and multimedia snippets. These shifts bring brilliant movement to the show and transform it from a typical tribute concert into something far more meaningful and dynamic. They contextualize the band within a musical and cultural history that was truly affected by the artistry that it brought into the world. The show is a unique combination of intimate and broad thanks to a warm and tight-knit cast and a unique multimedia presentation of worldly image and video.
The three members of the main cast share a palpable bond that is both vital to the show and exceedingly impressive at the same time. They are truly talented and carry with them a genuine air of respect for the men whose music they enable to live on through their work. Though in reality, these Bee Gee impersonators are comprised of three individual musicians, they come together to craft the kind of intuitive bond that the Gibb brothers shared.
DePaul junior, Andreas Tsironis, was particularly struck by this amity and awareness.
“The cast was so in tune with one another and the audience,” Tsironis said. “The performers fed off the energy that their camaraderie created and the audience could feel it.”
This production shares a unique connection with its audience. While it is often ill-advised to break the fourth wall in plays, “The Australian Bee Gees Show”takes full advantage of its concert-like nature and truly interacts with those that are sitting before it. Those who jump up first to dance receive pleased winks and encouragement from the cast. This interaction cultivates unparalleled energy and a truly mutual relationship that immerses the audience in music and heart rather than presenting them with it.
“The Australian Bee Gees Show” blends newness and nostalgia in order to craft a concert that is truly special. Its effects radiate tangibly into its audience; by the end of the production, there is not a single individual remaining in their seat. The show is as much a celebration as it is a work of art. Through every song and every word it cherishes both a legendary band and its audience as well. It is a humbling experience that allows you to dance in the aisles while simultaneously appreciating some of the most renowned music to date. It is impossible not to feel the Gibb Brothers’ presence in the unique show that has settled its roaming self in Chicago this month. It is only here for four weeks and it should not be missed.
“The Australian Bee Gees Show”will be at the Broadway Playhouse until Aug. 4.