Photo by Lane Peters Andrew Wade (as Art Garfunkel) and George Clements (as Paul Simon) will bring The Simon & Garfunkel Story to the Esplaande on March 7.
cbrown@medicinehatnews.com@MHNBrown
The music landscape is littered with dramatic breakups, but none were more dramatic than that of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. The pair went from two young friends on the streets of Queens, New York to the most successful musical duo of all-time. Amid rising tension, growing distance and squabbling the two split in 1970 while near the height of their success.
That journey – culminating in the famed Concert in Central Park in 1981 – will be told at the Esplanade on March 7.
George Clements (Paul Simon) and Andrew Wade (Art Garfunkel), backed by a full band, will play close to 30 of Simon & Garfunkel’s songs. Video projection on screens behind them and stories between the songs help set the scene along the journey.
“It’s definitely more than just a tribute show,” said Clements. “The stories about what’s going on in their personal lives. The arc of their career in terms of success and how their relationship is developing. Because obviously it’s a very unique relationship they had so we try to illustrate that a little bit.”
Simon & Garfunkel’s music is well known with songs like “Mrs. Robinson,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “The Sound of Silence” considered classics. The pair’s turbulent relationship is also well-known. What The Simon & Garfunkel Story aims to do is dig just a little deeper.
“Paul always felt I think in a funny way a little bit overshadowed by Garfunkel’s singing abilities but then Garfunkel felt like Paul was the genius writing all the songs. So there’s this strange dynamic and I think they learned to work together in a fairly harmonious way for a while and had a good symbiotic relationship,” said Clements, adding success eventually got in the way and that everyone eventually will want to strike out on their own.
“I think Paul got to a point in his career where he needed some space from Garfunkel and needed to do his own thing and write his own music and not feel tethered by another person. And also at one point Garfunkel was getting into movies and acting.”
Clements said he and Wade touch upon all of the ups and downs in the show, setting the stage for the finale – Central Park.
“When they got back together for The Concert in Central Park that was a really magical moment – 500,000 people – for both of them. Coming from obscurity in childhood to massive fame to the break up and then to come back to realize their music still had this incredible meaning that touched so many lives.”
Digging deeper means even the most ardent Simon & Garfunkel fans may leave the show having learned something about the duo or gained some insight into their favourite song, said Clements, but wouldn’t give away anything early.
“That’s classified,” he said with a laugh.
Even if you’re not too familiar with Simon & Garfunkel you will still love the show, Clements said.
“It’s a great journey through that time period in American history and this music is timeless. Whether you grew up with it or not, you’ll still come away feeling like ‘wow, that was a good show.'”
Tickets are available at tixx.ca, by calling 403-502-8777 or in person at the Esplanade box office or the Medicine Hat Mall customer service desk.
Show time is 7:30 p.m.
