(Pic:Samantha Landers, Pume Zondi, Lauren Laing and Londiwe Dhlomo)Four sassy ladies pay tribute to female artistes at revamped Upper Deck. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Whenever I review a show at the Upper Deck on the Phantom Ship at Ushaka Marine World, I go pleasantly prepared to view whatever changes have been made in terms of improving the stage area or the buffet preparation.
With the new show, Sing it Sista, there’s been a complete revamp of both the stage and the dining process. The performance area features a red-velvet draped stage within a stage with the band now far better displayed and the buffet replaced with a set menu.
I must admit I miss the buffet because it was attractively laid out in marine style on a lifeboat, adding a unique ambience to the venue. However, I suppose the removal of the lifeboat and side carvery certainly adds extra space for diners although on opening night, the noise from the covered dining section was very intrusive – particularly in numbers that require quiet introspection. It makes it difficult for both performers and audience to concentrate.
That said, Sing it Sista is an entertaining piece produced by Wayne Scott and directed by Charon Williams-Ross with Pume Zondi, Lauren Laing, Londiwe Dhlomo and Samantha Landers paying tribute to top female artists and all-girl groups. The look is sassy and sophisticated and the programme covers a wide variety of numbers from the Brox Sisters of the 1920s and wartime favourites The Andrew Sisters, through to the disco beats of The Three Degrees and the contemporary sounds of Destiny's Child.
Pume Zondi and Lauren Laing are in top form with Pume’s Saving All My Love and Lauren’s Have You ever been in Love being hot favourites. I also enjoyed Samantha’s Lover Man and Londiwe’s Sandcastle Disco. Good to see lead guitarist Jarred James moving into the spotlight – they should use him more often!
When performing songs that require the singers to do identical movements, it is very important that the choreography – however simple – is exact. Like a corps de ballet or isicathamiya, the performers must move in complete unison otherwise it looks untidy.
Just when I was beginning to wish for a more dramatic content to the programme, the foursome opened the second act with an irrepressible version of Lady Marmalade
Bradley Marshall has designed and styled attractive costumes for each decade which means that the show has a strong fashion element. The girls certainly get to wear some hectic earrings! Seated at the piano, musical director Shem Mahabeer provides good accompaniment from his four-piece combo which also includes bass guitarist Lewellyn Chetty and drummer Dylan Kanny.
In the new dinner format, there are two menus alternating weekly, both offering Soup of the Day among the starters and Chef’s curry of the day on the main.
Menu 1 – starters are Chicken à la Deck which is fried chicken strips in a peanut sauce, Grilled Calamari tentacle salad and Beef Trinchado in a fairly hot sauce. Main courses include Line Fish of the Day, Beef Medallions, Honey and Mustard Supreme of chicken (my choice and it was delicious), and Butternut and Feta Ravioli.
Menu 2 - starters are grilled Chicken salad; Calamari tubes in tomato and beef strips in BBQ sauce. Main courses are Rump steak, Line Fish Colbert; Lamb cutlets, and Tempura vegetable platter.
Desserts are identical to both menus: Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce, Fruit Salad and Ice Cream, and Malva Pudding and Custard. The Upper Deck also has a new wine and cocktail menu in the bar which now sports mini-aquarium tanks. Opening night also saw a promotion by Douglas Green presenting their new blends: Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec Merlot and the Sunkissed (lower in alchohol) Natural Sweet and Natural Sweet Rosé.
Sing it Sista runs on the Phantom Ship's revamped Upper Deck until October 17. Performances Thursday to Saturday nights at 20h00 with tickets at R150 pp including the three course-meal so the starting time of 19h00 for dinner is crucial. Booking is at Computicket or 031 328 8068. – Caroline Smart
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