Pic: Krystle Temmerman, Bandile Hlope, Sam Marais and Tammy Saville)
uShaka’s Upper Deck looking good with Sam Marais in top form. (Review by Caroline Smart)
The Upper Deck supper venue has hosted cabaret styled performances for a number of years but its current production, The Entertainer featuring Sam Marais has taken this venue to a new level.
Gone – at last! – are the railings separating the performance area from the audience which often caused sightline problems. There is a structured set in the sense that two side stages are created with “backdrops” in the form of flats resembling brick walls which carry larger than life images of Billy Joel and Sam Marais. Placed on an elevated area, they respond well to skilful lighting.
All this contributes to making The Entertainer one of the most “theatrical” (as opposed to “cabaret”) productions produced by this comfortable and informal venue situated on the Phantom Ship at uShaka Marine World.
Sam Marais has made a considerable contribution to the South African entertainment industry and the show has been structured to weave his own personal history into the music and lyrics of Billy Joel.
Sam Marais has been through tough times recently in terms of ill-health but he’s survived and I am very happy to see him back on the local circuit in a show that focuses on his undeniable talent. He drives the show with his energy and considerable theatrical experience. He’s all soul. All heart. Basically - you give to Sam, he gives back twentyfold.
In charting his life, Sam pays tribute to Natalia da Rocha with whom he appeared in a show titled Coffee and Cream that played major venues around South Africa, including Sun City. When South Africa became a democracy, he found himself “not black enough/not white enough” to find sufficient work to survive, so he headed for the beautiful popular tourist resort of Antalya in Turkey, from whence he played the cruise ships which took him round the world. As he quips: “I’ve been there, done that, got the T-shirt ripped away.”
Taking this performance space firmly under his experienced grasp, Sam Marais plays the stage well – moving easily from one side to the other, never letting any audience member feel that they are remote to the action, he dodges the “black” areas where the lights can’t reach. Many local performers can learn a lot from him – such as his behaviour with diners. When he leaves the stage to move into the audience, he very seldom even touches them but the personal interaction is very powerful.
His comedy timing and distinctive quirky, ironical and self-deprecatory style includes the familiar little skips, prowling and pouncing - there’s even the occasional tap dance. He’s also generous to his support team, always deferring to his backing singers, musical director Shem Mahabeer and the uShaka Band which includes Llewellyn Chetty (bass), Jarred Jaems (acoustic guitar), Dylan Kanny (drums) and Thabani Gapara on sax.
Good to see Krystle Temmerman and Tammy Saville - backing singers at Upper Deck until now – given the opportunity to shine. Bandile Hlope is the third member of the group and he performs My Baby Grand with Sam. At the moment, he’s a bit strident in this number but I have no doubt that he will soon learn to match Sam’s level of performance, understanding how much you need to give a microphone in terms of intensity (not necessarily volume).
Highlights for me were New York State of Mind; She’s Always a Woman to Me; In the Middle of the Night, The Longest Time and You’re Only Human.
My only niggle is that the music is too loud and often drowns the performers but this is something that can easily be adjusted. Upper Deck must be commended for continuing to employ a live band instead of backing tracks.
The upshot of the evening for me was that it was a real delight to see Sam Marais back in the fast lane, doing what he’s so good at – being entertaining. On top form and a force to be reckoned with!
Directed and scripted by Charon Williams-Ros and produced by Wayne Scott, The Entertainer on the Upper Deck will be staged Wednesday to Saturday nights at 20h00 until May 16 starting at 19h00. The show has a good exuberant feel, a wide range of moods and is well worth the ticket price of R150 pp which includes a buffet menu, with salads and desserts nicely presented on a lifeboat to enhance the nautical theme. Bookings on 031 328 8068 or at Computicket. – Caroline Smart
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