Global superstar Cher is so sensational it takes three women to portray her in “The Cher Show.” And while it’s actually a fascinating way to flow the action as the youthful, grown-up and wiser entertainer sweep in and out of scenes to give their perspectives, even the immense voices and alluring stage presences of Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond can’t add up to the unstoppable Grammy, Oscar and Emmy Award winner.

Nowadays divas don’t last for more than a few seasons let alone six decades, so just that truth alone makes “The Cher Show” worth the ever-improving investment.

That’s merely one way “The Cher Show” steers away from the conventional route of so many biographical musicals, the other being how it takes a page out of “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and unfolds like one mighty long variety show peppered with the drama of career dips and a troubled love life, but ultimately points to professional and romantic resilience. It all begins with her coming of age days alongside Sonny Bono, growing up before everyone’s eyes on television and eventually realizing all the fame and glory came at the expense of having any semblance of a normal life whatsoever.

That all changes for a season when Cher briefly settles down with Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band fame, but the showbiz bug comes calling again by the time they go their separate ways. However, there’s still one major love interest left that comes in the much younger form of the regular baker guy Rob Camilletti when she turns the big 4-0, which seems like the most stable of the bunch until one unfortunate night that involves a paparazzi ambush and arrest.

In spite of it all, Cher believes in life after love and she keeps pulling herself by her sequined gowns, embracing the role of a serious actress, authentic rock n’ roller and auto-tune innovator. And speaking of music, there are at least snippets or complete versions of more than 30 tracks, including such eternal flames as “I Got You Babe,” “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss),” “If I Could Turn Back Time,” “I Found Someone,” “After All,” and “Strong Enough.”

Behind the scenes, Bob Mackie is just as important in the equation, designing countless costumes for “The Cher Show” that rival if not surpass his most memorable work with the actual Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross and others of equal stature. Some moments actually feel more like a high-budget runaway fashion show than they do a major musical, though they are so glitzy and glamorous, they’re always worth the diversion.

Outside of those obvious assets, “The Cher Show” leaves room for polishing (at least as far as the official pre-Broadway premiere was concerned). For starters, the nearly two-and-a-half-hour undertaking was just plain slow at times with some of the Sonny & Cher skits seeming redundant, plus several transitions through different eras and relationships lacked pacing and punch.

In addition, Cher is so many things to a wide cross-section of people, including an empowered underdog, gay icon and legitimate artist. While those first two topics are repeatedly apparent, “The Cher Show” is extremely thin on details relating to her creative decisions, recording sessions, music videos and concert tours (outside of a hysterical reference to her never-ending bluff of a farewell).

It’s not nearly enough to spoil the sparkles and Cher faithful will likely fawn anyway, but with some additional fine-tuning, it can enter the exceptional league of say Carole King’s “Beautiful” or Emilio & Gloria Estefan’s “On Your Feet.” Nowadays divas don’t last for more than a few seasons let alone six decades, so just that truth alone makes “The Cher Show” worth the ever-improving investment.

---

“The Cher Show” continues at the Oriental Theatre through Jul. 15. For additional details, visit TheCherShowBroadway.com and BroadwayInChicago.com.