Rain sprinkles Beatles nostalgia

Sharyn Gladstone

The popular Beatles Broadway tribute “Rain” came to Boston over the weekend for three shows at The Wang Theatre. For decades, their mission has been to spread the  The Beatles’ music around the world so the Fab Four’s music can live on and inspire new generations of musicians and listeners. Paul Curatolo, who plays Paul McCartney, took on the role portrayed for many years by his father, Joey Curatolo. Having seen the elder Curatolo twice, it was touching to see his son take over for him, as it shows the impact the music must have had on both father and son over the years.

Rain opened the show dressed in matching grey suits, paying homage to The Beatles’ legendary appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. After playing a few of the band’s early hits like, “She Loves You,” “From Me To You,” “Twist and Shout,” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” the house lights dimmed and a projection appeared behind them and pre-recorded black and white footage aired of Rain imitating some of The Beatles famous press interviews.

From there, the men reappeared in the costumes the Beatles wore in their second feature film, “Help!” They performed a few songs from that album including “The Night Before,” but not the popular title track. The audience danced to popular tunes “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Day Tripper,” and “Norwegian Wood.” A single spotlight shown on Curatolo as he belted out the ballad “Yesterday” as the audience sang along.

After a brief intermission, the audience was reintroduced to the group in full costume from the iconic Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band.” They rocked out to the title track, its reprise, and “With A Little Help From My Friends,” which was the lone song that Rain’s Ringo Starr actor Aaron Chiazza sang. His voice wasn’t as deep as the actual Beatles drummer, but he played the drums just as well as Starr.

Clips and montages of old ‘60s television commercials  played, including one of the Flintstones smoking cigarettes as Rain made their final costume change. After a montage of the world-changing as a result of political and radical movements, the lights in the theatre burst back on and flashed wildly as they belted out “Revolution.”

Alastar McNeil shined as George Harrison. The audience sang along with back-to-back favorites, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Here Comes the Sun,” that shifted the atmosphere of the theatre from lively to somber, signaling the end of The Beatles’ time together.

Rain concluded their show with “The End,” the penultimate track from the band’s final recorded album, Abbey Road. As most Rain fans know, if you cheer long enough after the band exits, they will come back out and perform encores.

Curatolo led two of the Fab Four’s most legendary songs with “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude,” where the band, like the real McCartney, often break up the “Nah Nah Nah’s” into solos for men, women, and age groups to take turns.

Rain did not disappoint, despite replacing three of its long tenured members. Their memorable and unique performance proved how special The Beatles’ music was and still is to every generation.