Given that the chance of Paul and Artie, now both 84, ever performing together again is somewhere less than zero (although a precedent is that hell did once famously freeze over), a show commemorating their partnership is the next best thing, mostly.
This global hit show tells the story of the origins and meteoric rise of Simon & Garfunkel blended together, of course, with all their hits – and a few more unfamiliar songs as well.
The two young men from Queens who conquered the world and then spectacularly fell out are played by Nathan Christy (Simon) and Samuel Joseph Howes (Garfunkel), who both perform creditably, with Christy needing to master Paul’s guitar technique as well as hone his voice.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story at Lighthouse, Poole (Image: Cliff Moore)
One short, one taller, one curly-haired, one with a regulation cut, one strumming, one hands in pockets – they look vaguely like S&G (in a way somewhat similar to how Paul Casar and Simon Farnaby resemble the duo in Detectorists).
Behind them on a purely black set is a smallish screen portraying contemporary American life in the 1960s and early 1970s – the Kennedys, civil rights movement, counterculture, moon landings, Vietnam – which was fine, but sadly not a single shot of either Simon or Garfunkel was included.
Must have been a rights issue.
The duo begin with The Sound Of Silence in front of a three-piece band featuring Dan Martin, Nick Robinson, and Robin Johnson, which was a little too loud, particularly the drums.
In a highly scripted way, Christy and Howes tell the story of the New York folkies from their school days, through their Tom & Jerry period (they performed Hey Schoolgirl) through to superstardom and subsequent reunions.
Then comes Simon’s sojourn in the UK and Kathy’s Song, followed by I Am A Rock and Somewhere They Can’t Find Me, which preceded Homeward Bound, an excellent rendition of Scarborough Fair and The 59th Street Bridge Song as the hits continue.
The second half started strongly with Mrs Robinson, A Hazy Shade Of Winter and an oddly long section of voices and still shots of people ageing which led into the solo, acoustic Old Friends.
Highlights included America, and The Only Living Boy In New York before the Bridge Over Troubled Water album took over with Cecilia, Keep The Customer Satisfied, Baby Driver, Late In The Evening and S&G’s regular cover version, Bye Bye Love closed the show.
A strangely disappointing version of Bridge Over Troubled Water (it must be fiendishly hard to match the sheer splendour of the original) was held back until the encore, with just The Boxer to follow.
A good night out but no standing ovation from me.
Review by Cliff Moore.