REVIEW: Something about George - The George Harrison Story

Last Sunday evening, I joined an audience of theatre-goers to watch the latest production from the creators of Something About Simon. The brand new show- Something About George featuring Daniel Taylor was poised to tell the story of the life of former Beatle George Harrison. I was intrigued to find out about the well-known man who devoted his life to music, philanthropy and spirituality.

The protagonist of the show was the talented Daniel Taylor - a multi-award winning actor, producer, singer, songwriter and director who I have had the privilege of watching on stage many times now. He narrated the show and sang songs from Harrisons solo career as well as his collaborative efforts with the Beatles and The Travelling Wilburys.

Unfortunately, Daniel had sustained an injury a few days prior to the show, breaking his shoulder, yet in true 'the show must go on' spirit delivered 95 minutes of vocals and narration for the audiences pleasure. Kudos to Daniel for his display of resilience and commitment to the cause of telling this incredible mans story.

I must admit, I was not too familiar with Harrison's work prior to the show and knew only a handful of the tracks. That really didn't matter because what happened over the course of the show was that I gained a beautiful insight into the man, his ethos, his music, his story. Born in 1943 in Wavertree, we learnt how Harrison had a magnanimous spirit, a penchant for all things psychedelic and a burning desire to help those less fortunate than himself. Indeed, he created the blueprint for charity concerts that took place after his mighty effort for the people of Bangladesh. We learnt how George's love of Eastern spirituality and transcendental meditation (as introduced by his love interest), inspired him to weave these tenets into his music. 

His debut solo  album "All things must pass" was remarkable because not only did it give him the freedom to explore his own sound once leaving the Beatles, it gave him the perfect opportunity to explore Eastern spiritual concepts. It was both critically acclaimed as well as commercially successful.

Daniel Taylor belted out "What is life" as the first track of the evening and it was clear from the outset that as well as being a stunning vocalist in his own right, he was supported by talented musicians and vocalists. Wearing a sling, there was clearly no way that Taylor could play the guitar as planned, so Jonny Darnell rose to the occasion with his selection of acoustic guitars which he played throughout the performance. I was blown away by the exuberance and stunning vocals of Jordan Alexander on keys. His harmonies with Daniel throughout the evening were incredible. Similarly, Jon Fellowes on lead guitar was fantastic. Callum MacMillian on drums and percussion contributed beautifully resulting in a tight set.

Daniels' diction was superb. I hung on to his every word as he narrated. The level of the audience engagement was palpable. We learned about Harrisons struggles, his bouts of depression and drug dependency and we, the audience felt invested. I was not aware of the life that Harrison had lived, full of complexities, humanitarian endeavours, heartbreak, trauma and triumphs until I attended this show. It certainly was an education. Visuals were projected at the rear of the stage which added an extra layer of poignancy to the audio content. 

We gained a remarkable insight into what George stood for and what motivated him. He was a man who forgave and did not harbour a grudge, as evidenced when his former wife married Eric Clapton. He stood for love and light, deep compassion and joy despite his own demons. I found it particularly touching when Daniel recounted when George passed away and his wife Olivia's recollection. She said that when his spirit left his body, the room illuminated white. It was at this point that the lighting on set changed and Taylor sang "Here comes the sun".

The show was exquisite, the sensitivity and clarity in which it was delivered was wonderful. I felt enlightened and informed after watching the show. The ambience of the theatre was wonderfully fitting throughout. The lighting, the audio visuals, the quality of the vocals, the musical arrangement and Daniel Taylor executing the role of the protagonist with such professionalism was a joy to behold. I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Learning about Harrisons life story which featured heartbreak to hedonism and musical successes was a worthwhile investment of my time.

The show played at The Epstein for two nights: 18th & 19th June and was the brand-new full scale production as part of a UK tour, prior to an Edinburgh Fringe run.

Congratulations to The Something About George production team:

Production credits

Produced by: Something About Productions Ltd

Co-producer & writer: Jon Fellowes

Co-producer: Gary Edward Jones

Co-producer: Bill elms

Multi-Media Video: Jamie Jenkins

Sound Designer: Kate O'Brien

Artwork Creation Matt Bury

PR Rating 5 stars *****