Bacharach Reimagined Is ‘Close To You’
After a successful and critically acclaimed run in New York, a homage by Kyle Riabko to the music of Burt Bacharach opened for previews at London’s Criterion Theatre this week. uDiscover was lucky enough to be there and witness a breath-taking 90-minute theatrical interpretation of the great man’s work.
Close To You is directed by Olivier Award-winning Steven Hoggett (Once, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time), and puts a fresh spin on the songbook musical with the use of innovative choreography to reimagine Bacharach’s timeless songs.
The charismatic Riabko stars in the performance and leads a talented group of musicians and singers through the show, which won over the West End audience from the outset. His sharp and clever musical arrangements were sometimes radical but always entertaining, and the cast reacted with great energy and commitment to the piece.
The show officially opens on 15 October, and Bacharach fans should not miss the opportunity of experiencing this magical and captivating musical event. As Bacharach himself says: “Kyle Riabko has done something truly unique with my music. I loved it.”
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