Simon and Garfunkel Story performs soundtrack to people’s lives

Listening to The Simon & Garfunkel Story at Centenary Theatre, Berkhamsted on 7 August was like hearing a soundtrack of people’s lives rather than a collection of hit songs.

It’s a description the show’s general manager and associate director, Cameron Potts used when explaining to Lyn Drummond about the enduring power of the legendary American musical duo whose harmonies and songwriting defined the 1960s folk-rock era.

Using huge projection photos and original film footage, this international hit show tells the story of the origins and meteoric rise of Simon & Garfunkel, blended together with a full band performing all the hits including Mrs Robinson, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Homeward Bound.

‘One of the reasons the music has endured for so long is because the songs are incredibly melodic, but underneath they deal with loneliness, friendship, relationships, growing older and the passage of time. Those themes don’t go out of fashion,’ Cameron said.

‘We’ve certainly gained plenty of new fans along the way. The music is so beautifully written that it doesn’t really belong to one generation – it just keeps finding new audiences. We try to give audiences a real flavour of the breadth of Simon & Garfunkel’s music. That means recreating the distinctive vocal harmonies and acoustic sound of the duo, alongside the wider instrumentation and musical arrangements that developed throughout their career.’

After the tribute performances, audiences would often recount stories about hearing The Sound of Silence or Bridge Over Troubled Water at a particular moment in their lives, or about sharing the records with their parents.

‘For a touring company, those moments are incredibly rewarding. You’re reminded that you’re not just performing a collection of hit songs – you’re performing the soundtrack to people’s lives.’

Nathan Christy as Paul Simon, Samuel Joseph Howes as Art Garfunkel, Nick Martin bass, Dan Robinson, keyboards, guitar and Robin Johnson, drums have been together since January, although some members of the band have appeared in the production for several years.

‘Nathan Christy and Samuel Howes were chosen because they bring the right combination of musical ability, vocal qualities and stage presence to these two iconic roles,’ Cameron explained. ‘They don’t simply imitate Simon and Garfunkel; they aim to capture the spirit, character and musicality of the original duo while bringing their own energy to the performance.’

Bridge Over Troubled Water, released on 26 January 1970, was the duo’s fifth and final studio album, selling over 25 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums ever.

The audience on 7 August had to wait to the encore to hear the much loved song, written by Paul Simon.

The packed theatre’s elation to the first notes with its timeless themes of empathy, support, and reassurance said it all for Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s powerful legacy.