FOLLOWING its West End success at the Leicester Square Theatre, ‘The Simon and Garfunkel Story’ is currently the most successful touring theatre show celebrating the lives and career of Simon and Garfunkel.
The show has played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and around the European circuit twice, according to its producer Dean Elliott of Maple Tree Entertainment. It is due to tour US and Canada.
Featuring seasoned West End-leading man Greg Clarke and a full cast of talented actor-musicians, ‘The Simon and Garfunkel Story’ takes you back through the groovy flowerpower era of the 1960s. It tells the story of both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel from their beginnings as rock n roll duo ‘Tom and Jerry’, right through their massive success, dramatic break-up and finishing with a stunning recreation of the 1981 Central Park reformation concert.
“It has been five decades. I have always been a fan, I grew up listening to the music,” says director Dean Elliott who wrote the show.
“They have a great back catalogue of songs but it is the story that hadn’t been told in a theatrical context. It is the story of Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon. And also the story of the sixties, a cultural game changer. They were singing about it and living it.”
Alongside the classic songs, the show also gives an insight into their personal relationship.
“What their relationship was like is an interesting angle! It is always a question that is asked. Where they friends? Were they not friends? We answer that within a theatrical context.”
Using a huge projection screen, the show features 1960s’ photos and film footage whilst a full live band perform their hits including ‘Mrs Robinson’, ‘Cecilia’, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, ‘Homeward Bound’, ‘Sound of Silence’ and many more!
“We take people thought a bit of a tour through the sixties visually. It is a nostalgic look through that era, we get a lot of people saying that they were taken back in time whilst watching the show.”
The Simon and Garfunkel Story’ could very well be the only time that an audience will hear these classic songs performed in the way they were created. Art Garfunkel has been suffering hearing issues and only performs sporadically while Paul Simon has released a new single ‘Wristband’ from his upcoming album ‘Stranger to Stranger’ due in June.
Dean agrees that we are unlikely to see the duo tour together ever.
“Two weeks ago, Paul Simon issued a statement saying that he would never tour with him again, which is kinda sad because there are obviously some relationship problems there, which is a shame.”
‘The Simon and Garfunkel Story’ plays at University Concert Hall, Limerick this Tuesday May 17 at 8pm. Booking: 061-331549.
