Theatre Review: Only Yesterday Is A Play For Today
Watching Only Yesterday was like watching the magic of being human. Based off an interview from Paul McCartney, the 70 minute play, currently playing at 59E59 Theaters, Only Yesterday reimagines a night in Paul and John’s life that led to music and one of the biggest glues to their bond: loss. Through Christopher Sears’ John Lennon and Tommy Crawford’s Paul McCartney, viewers see John and Paul were just two guys that were incredibly talented and hurt by the loss of their mothers.
When you lose a mom, you lose your first friend. No one will ever emotionally support and guide you like a mom. Of course, this emotional breakthrough happens mid-way in the play. In the beginning, John and Paul are stranded in a Key West hotel due to a storm and are fighting to not have their upcoming show be segregated. From the beginning, Sears and Crawford remind you that Paul and John were fresh, mischievous, and wide-eyed boys excited by the idea of being “stars” or “The Beatles!” We have all dreamt of ourselves as famous, rich, and adored, of which we find J & P in the blossoming of their songwriting legends.
John Lennon Paul McCartney give interview 1964
As a Beatles fan, people will LOVE Only Yesterday, It is a beautiful, brisk, and humble heartfelt take on a duo that feels, at times, too mythical imagine. Sears makes John Lennon feel like a big kid balancing sincere traumas and massive dreams for himself. Meanwhile, Crawford plays Paul like a quiet, “poking mischievousness:” both men attracted to each other for their ability to fuel and balance each other’s “wild,” which explains why they made so many hits. Sears and Crawford sing a few times during the show, which makes the crowd feel vitalized by fun and vision. For a moment, we think we are seeing J & P rock out, and, though Olivia Swayze’s Shirley Knapp gains laughs and adorability as an avid, pre-teen fan stuck in their vents, the show feels like a character piece of young mens’ friendship.
Directed by Carol Dunne and written by Bob Stevens, the best part of this show is when John and Paul breakdown and breakthrough to let out their hurt. Sears and Crawford portray these men as jovial guys, but when they tell each other of their past traumas, it brings a level of weight Paul and John’s friendships. No difference between them could outweigh the reliance and truth they shared. For More Information on Only Yesterday Click Here.
