The Carpenters Songbook was a trip down memory lane, with the story of Richard and Karen Carpenters songs played out on The Regal Theatre stage. We hear, not only the timeless classic singles but also deeper album cuts, as well the tragic story of the brother and sister duo.

The show got underway with Yesterday Once More, with The Carpenters first charting single, a cover of The Beatles Ticket to Ride, following, while on the big screen behind the band, the story of The Carpenters played out. Singer Reine Beau asked everyone to get “phones out and light up the theatre” for Close to You, and while some did, I looked at the demographic (me included) and thought, no, this is not a mobile phone crowd. Some nice trumpet playing by the keyboard player during the song.

We received a history lesson about the band from Reine, about the ups and downs of the brother/sister duo and the unfortunate death of Karen. In an interview, Karen apparently said We’ve Only Just Begun was the bands favourite song and tonight, the band nailed it beautifully.

The hits kept coming in Rainy Days and Mondays, Superstar and Top of the World, before a short intermission.

The second half began with a few deeper cuts, Only Yesterday, A Song for You and what was the highlight of the show, Say Goodbye to Love. The theme of songs described by Reine as, “Lots of love songs but sad ones. I am glad there was only three shows otherwise depression may have set in”.

The majority of songs The Carpenters recorded were in fact covers, but the run home was just famous songs The Carpenters covered, songs to get the audience up dancing, which they did. There’s a Kind of Hush, Jambalaya and Breaking Up Is Hard to Do all rolled out before a lovely Desperado with just guitar accompaniment. All good songs, but a few deeper cuts like Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft would have been nice.

Yet another cover closed out the evening, but to be fair a massive hit for The Carpenters, Please Mr Postman, with Reine asking everyone to stand for the last song. A timely upbeat song to send everyone home.

The Regal Theatre was a loverly setting for The Carpenters Songbook and for one evening it really was Yesterday Once More.