DUETS TO DYE FOR

Family Players and Friends offer fun show at Rhumbelow. (Review by Maurice Kort)

The Family Players (Greg Baptie, Derek Pearce, Allan Quihampton and Roland Stansell) are a long standing group of drag artists - 29 years young, and not so young - performing to recorded music and they have made the Rhumbelow Theatre their home. They are joined by their "friends" - two singers (Junaid Cassimjee and Belinda Dolphin) and two dancers (Graeme Harpham and Kirsty Randall), with the odd appearance by Trevor Gandy, to present, as "The Family Players & Friends", their latest show Duets to Dye For. This is the first time I have seen the group and I can appreciate their popularity.

There is a pleasant mix of straight singing by Belinda Dolphin and Junaid Cassimjee and mimed songs by the drag artists, often so well done one wonders if they are actually singing. Their outfits are outrageous adding much fun to the show, especially their outrageous wigs and often over the top makeup, for example Roland Stansell's. Even the singers and dancers change their costumes at every opportunity. Kirsty Randall and Graeme Harpham are no Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire - the small stage would prevent this, anyway, but they make the most of the space and it is great fun to watch them perform. Much use is also made of the front of the hall below the stage to increase the performance area.

With the singers in drag not taking themselves too seriously, for example in Too Old to Cut the Mustard, Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home, I Feel Pretty and The Tennessee Waltz, the show is a fun romp and was thoroughly enjoyed by the capacity matinee audience. On a more serious note, One Moment in Time by two of the "ladies" was very well done. I also enjoyed Till the White Rose Blooms Again, Quando Quando, Miss Baltimore Crown, Ugly Sisters and I Know Him So Well.

The sound and lighting are slick and the lighting effects contribute to the visual delight of the simple set. The show is great fun

The Rhumbelow venue shows are over weekends with Friday and Saturday performances at 20h00 with Sunday matinees at 14h00, this show running August 14 to 16 and again from August 28 to 30 with an additional 18h30 show on August 30.

There is the standard Rhumbelow format with the venue opening 90 minutes before the show for a picnic meal. There are fires available should you wish to braai some meat, however no alcohol may be brought on to the premises as there is a Shellhole bar available. Limited secure parking is available and booking is essential through Roland at 031 205 7602 or 082 499 8636 or e-mail roland@stansell.za.net Tickets R80. For further information visit www.rhumbelow.za.net - Maurice Kort