Theatre Review 'The Cher Show"

The Cher Show at Patchogue Theater: The Beat Goes on

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

The Gateway’s production of The Cher Show is a smash hit, and the rousing standing ovation after Saturday night’s performance seemed to go on forever!

This exuberant jukebox musical with a book by Rick Elise tells the tale of how the shy, introverted, and insecure Cherilyn Sarkisian became the iconic performer known simply as “Cher.” This legendary singer, television star, comedian, and actress has won an Academy Award, a Grammy, three Golden Globes, and an Emmy.

Cher has reinvented and transformed herself so many times during her decades-long career that the show’s creators decided that three separate actresses would have to be cast to portray all these successful incarnations. Lucky for us, The Gateway found three multitalented performers, Aléna Watters, Charissa Hogeland, and Madeline Hudelson, to bring this legend to life. Each of these rising superstars brings the right amount of sass to their characterization of Cher, knows how to belt out a tune, and delivers the funny one-liners Cher is known for with perfect comedic timing. Donning their stunning costumes, this terrific trio looked, sounded, and sang the part.

Aléna Watters as Star, the mature warrior/goddess incarnation of Cher, takes us through the 1980s and 90s, reminiscing about her life and career choices, and willingly shares her down-to-earth wisdom with the audience as if they are her new BFFs. During these tumultuous years, Cher made her mark in Hollywood, made peace with her recently deceased business partner and ex-husband Sonny Bono, and triumphantly made her comeback with the hit album and song “Believe.” Ms. Watters’s showstopping rendition of “The Way of Love” was a memorable moment in musical theater.

Charissa Hogeland portrays Lady, the wild child Cher we knew during the 1970s era. Ms. Hogeland masterfully navigates the rollercoaster of emotions Cher experienced during this life-changing decade. There were the highs and lows Cher encountered while doing the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and the burnout she felt from performing one show after another, including her stint at the Las Vegas casinos. In 1974, Cher had an acrimonious split with Sonny, calling her marriage “involuntary servitude.” During Act I, Ms. Hogeland got to show off her powerhouse vocals with “Bang Bang,” the dramatic song written by Sony Bono, which became Cher’s first million-selling single.

Madeline Hudelson as Babe was charismatic in her depiction of Cher in the early years of her life, spanning the 1950s and 60s. At 16, Cher left home to pursue her dreams of being a performer, and as fate would have it, met Sonny Bono, played by Dino Nicandros. Ms. Hudelson and Mr. Nicandros’s duet, “I Got You Babe,” was heartwarming and one of my favorite numbers in the show. Mr. 

Nicandros gave an outstanding performance as Sonny, a complex man with a Napoleon complex who needed to control everything and everyone, especially Cher.

Featured in this show are also two of Cher’s other love interests, Gregg Allman and Rob Camilletti.  John Rochette was very believable as Gregg Allman, the southern rocker/stoner/man-child who couldn’t get his act together, even though he fathered a child with Cher. Mr. Rochette rocked his solo, “Midnight Rider/Ramblin’ Man.

Alexander Rios was charming and convincing as Rob Camilletti, dubbed by the media with the unflattering moniker “Bagel Boy.” Rob Camilletti was considerably younger than Cher when he met her in 1986, which was more cannon fodder for the paparazzi. The term “Cougar” wasn’t coined until 2002, with the publication of Valorie Gibson’s Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men,” proving once again that Cher was way ahead of her time. This musical makes it clear that Mr. Camilletti was wrongly depicted in the media as Cher’s “Boy Toy” because he was one of the great loves of her life.

This production features the breathtaking Tony-Award-winning costumes Bob Mackie created for the original Broadway The Cher Show. These dazzling costumes are the real scene stealers in this show. From the opening number, “If I Could Turn Back Time,” with Ms. Watters strutting around the stage in the infamous figure-hugging black jersey catsuit, with the mesh-filled cutouts and the black motorcycle jacket; to Ms. Hudelson’s showstopping performance as she gyrates and shimmies through the “The Beat Goes On,” dressed in a to die for gold mini dress with dangling sequins. And, of course, there was the “Naked Dress” she wore to the Met Gala in 1974 that caused such a scandal that Cher just had to flaunt it again in 1975 on the cover of Time magazine. Then there was Cher’s unforgettable, over-the-top “Mohawk” costume that was the talk of the Academy Awards in 1986. During Act 1, the song “Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do” is a non-stop fashion show that wowed the audience. 

Angie Schworer was terrific as Cher’s tough, but ever-supportive mother.  Ms. Schworer delivered a heartrending version of “You Better Sit Down, Kid,” during the moving scene where she is telling Cher that her dad is leaving.

Gateway veteran, David Engel, did a superb job of portraying several characters, including Bob Mackie, Robert Altman, and Frank. I particularly enjoyed his spot-on depiction of the Tony Award-winning costume designer, Bob Mackie.

Brilliantly directed by David Ruttura and with exciting choreography by Jane Lanier to 35 of Cher’s smash hits, you don’t want to miss this show. One of my favorite dance numbers was the hauntingly beautiful choreography performed during the pop rock song “Dark Lady.”

Kudos to the supremely talented ensemble that includes Kevin Michael Buckley, Les Gibbs, Anna Hiran, Alyssa Ishihara, Jesse Jones, Gabriel Kearns, Ernesto Olivas, Merrill Peiffer, Nikki Rinaudo-Concessi, BB Stone, TJ Tapp, Jordan Taylor, and Mat Webb, and Swings Corrie Newman, Ernesto Olivas, and Nikki Rinaudo-Concessi.

The Gateway’s polished to perfection The Cher Show is a definite do not miss production!

The show runs through September 11 at the Patchogue Theatre. Tickets can be purchased as a curated or flexible subscription - giving you the best value on ticket prices and many other great benefits - or as single tickets (starting at $59). The Gateway also offers Youth and Teen pricing on some performances and Student Rush tickets which can only be purchased one hour before show-time, at the door, and with a valid Student ID. For more information, contact the Box Office at (631) 286-1133, or visit the website at Https://TheGateway.org.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Long Island Authors Group. She is the author of Grant Me a Higher Love, Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships and Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic. Two of her monologues from her full-length plays are featured in Smith and Kraus’s The Best Men’s Stage Monologues of 2022 and The Best Women’s Stage Monologues of 2022.www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.