(Pic: Shelley McLean, Evan Roberts, Melanie Roberts and Liesl Coppin)
Four friends compile highly enjoyable show of the music they love. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Four top Durban performers who are also long-term friends – Evan Roberts, Melanie Roberts Shelley McLean and Liesl Coppin – have pooled their considerable musical talents to put together The Bald and the Beautiful which is about to come to the end of its extended run at Rhumbelow Theatre.
It’s a good mix of talents comprising brunette Melanie (good to see her back in town), redhead Shelley, blonde Liesl and Evan (no hair) – work the title out for yourself!
Maurice Kort has already effectively reviewed this production for artSMart but, having seen it this evening, I’d like to add my two cents worth in acknowledging that this is a highly enjoyable and entertaining show. There are only two more performances at Rhumbelow otherwise you’ll have to wait for the Witness Hilton Arts Festival in September!
This is a show presented by four people – Melanie and Evan (no relation), go back over 20 years – who not only know each other well on a personal basis but know every inch of each other’s professional skills. They’ve done no less than 14 shows together. In their explanation for the programme content, they explain that the show encapsulates their treatment of all the musical styles they do. They take a song that they love, strip it down to melody and piano, listen to the meaning of the lyrics and then re-arrange styles of songs to suit their intuition, style and abilities.
There is no logical progression for the songs, so don’t try to find one. Just sit back and let four good entertainers take you on a journey of the music of their choice. The arrangements are often fascinating and interesting and there are some delicious surprises. Expect to hear Time After Time, Make You Feel My Love, I Will Survive, My Baby Just Cares For Me, Mr Bojangles and a Carole King medley. Shelley shines in Halleluja while Evan wryly acknowledges his relationship with his singers in I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.
All three actresses have been through the emotional mill on a major scale one way or the other over the past few years which adds considerably poignancy to a number of the songs. Melanie throws down the gauntlet to her ex-husband in what is a highly amusing rendition of “You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog” which includes Shelly and Liesl putting their oar in with hilarious reference to high profile figures currently in the limelight.
A grand piano takes up nearly all the space on the compact Rhumbelow stage and while Evan is mainly seated at the instrument, Shelley occasionally takes over. There is good-natured banter between the four of them, adding to the informality of the show.
Happily, for once, I can report that the sound is good for this Rhumbelow show and the lighting includes some attractive effects. Generally the costumes are attractive but there are some which are very unflattering and don’t work on stage.
The Bald and the Beautiful has two more performances tomorrow and Sunday (May 2 at 20h00 and May 3 at 18h30). The venue opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.
Tickets R80. Take along food picnic baskets and braais will be available. There is limited secure parking and booking is essential. A cash bar is available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises). Rhumbelow Theatre is situated in Cunningham Avenue off Bartle Road.
To book contact Roland on 031 205 7602 (h) or 082 499 8636, email roland@stansell.za.net or visit www.rhumbelow.za.net – Caroline Smart
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