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Cherilyn Sarkisian, better known as Cher, Diva, consummate entertainer and music icon lives! If you are a fan, you will delight in the Neil Simon Theatre musical, The Cher Show, LET’S DO THIS, BITCHES.

Stage lights dazzle, shine and shimmer like Las Vegas glitz. The music beats and pulses thigh to thigh pressed together in the tightly seated theater. The size, small and intimate, offers stage close seating. Reach out, and introduce yourself to your neighbor as I did, admiring his zirconia bling watch.

I do not know whom should get the credit, producers, Flody Suarez, Jeffrey Seller, and Cher, or musical director Andrew Resnick, for utilizing three singers whose voices complimented and harmonized beautifully, it was genius. The three tell the life story of Cher. Each plays Cher at different ages and stages, highlighting challenges, successes, and failures. Whether singing solo or in their triad, their voices were true, accented by high energy – their passion showed and they looked like they were having fun.

LET’S DO THIS, BITCHES captures an underlying theme of never quitting, giving up, or staying down when life presents challenges and roadblocks.  We observe how many times Cher made herself from nothing again and again, from fame to homelessness from pennies to millions. Like the Phoenix, Cher rose from the ashes. She learned what compromising cost, what giving up control over image and business cost, what marriage cost. The Cher we know today worked hard for everything she has become, her life story tells a tale of growth, discovery, learning, and awakening. Most importantly it sings loudly about determination and never giving up, even when all appears hopeless.

Ever present in Cher’s story is her mom, Georgia Holt, who supported, guided and cheered her. Georgia’s steadfast belief in Cher’s ability to meet any obstacle served as motivation. Georgia, who will turn 93 in June, and has been married six times appears to have lived well and has an interesting story of her own to share.

Of course, any story about Cher must include Sonny Bono, and we forget that Cher was just sixteen years old, Sonny twelve years her senior when they met. The musical shares their first acquaintance through song with Phil Spector, to courtship, marriage, children, divorce and the Sonny and Cher Show and Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. For thirteen years they worked as a team and their lives were intertwined until Sonny’s death in 1998. The musical hints at an after death connection in a scene where Sonny appears and Cher teases him about being dead.

Greg Allman, Cher’s second husband appears, and the destruction of their marriage in part dramatized through drug abuse, but the magic that drew them together was well acted – their chemistry and connection evident.

Costume changes are many and are reproductions of some of Cher’s memorable real-life fashion images. There were glamorous dresses with sequins, bold colors, feathers, fringe, amazing hats and headpieces, and total sexiness. There were so many to love. I am waiting for someone to have a Cher themed party and guests can come in their favorite outfit – please somebody!

The end of the musical is full of energy, lights, singing, and clapping. I left the theater, uplifted, feeling sure I could accomplish anything, face any test or trial because…

I’ve been brought down to my knees

And I’ve been pushed way past

The point of breaking

But I can take it

I’ll be back

Back on my feet

This is far from over

You haven’t seen the last of me

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