(Pic: Clive Gumede, Pume Zondi and Khaya Mthethwa)Well-presented and entertaining show works well at Suncoast venue – with special tickets price offer for the rest of the run. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Clive Gumede, Pume Zondi and Khaya Mthethwa, who make up Black Magic, first performed their Motown tribute at the Upper Deck at uShaka last year in a show titled Motown On Deck, directed by Charon Williams-Ross.
Now titled The Motown Show, the show is accompanied by the excellent five-piece band, Sweet Concept, and is coming to the end of its run at Suncoast Casino’s The Zone with only three more performances left this week.
The Zone is an attractive and workable venue operating under the umbrella of Durban’s top entertainment technical specialists, Black Coffee. Equipped with a proper stage which has a revolve for this show, it also boasts an impressive lighting rig and an efficient and powerful sound system. Thank heavens, with Megan Levy - last night’s Durban Theatre Award (DTA) winner for Sound Design - on the controls, none of my usual gripes about unbalanced sound apply here.
Sassy, charming and dressed in a variety of attractive outfits, Pume Zondi also garnered an award at last night’s DTA ceremony as Supporting Actress (Musical Theatre) for her performance in Little Shop of Horrors for KickstArt and The Motown Show allows her to present all the qualities required for this accolade.
Clive Gumede, perfectly at home with this style of music, provides a strong vocal match for her while looking suave and elegant. Clive and Pume have sung together in many shows and the good rapport between them stretches across the footlights.
As a theatre judge, it’s always a delight to watch the growth of performers through the years and Khaya Mthethwa is no exception. His stage presence is now far more confident, he’s relaxed and in control and his singing has considerably matured. Rather than acting as support to the other two performers, he’s up there matching them!
Expect to hear all the foot-tapping popular Motown numbers from Smokey Robinson’s Take A Good Look At My Face and Marvin Gaye’s Grapevine to the Temptations’ Just My Imagination and Peaches and Herb’s Reunited. The extensive song list also includes The World is a Great Big Onion, Never Can Say Goodbye, You Gonna Miss My Lovin’, Love the One You’re With, Pappa was a Rolling Stone, In the Midnight Hour, Take a Good Look at my Face and Proud Mary. Kevin Ellis’s costumes are attractive and glamorous. Brandon Bunyan has produced a splendid lighting design and I liked his idea of piano keys around the revolve.
To reach the Zone effectively, turn to the left as you enter Suncoast’s parking area and move down towards the sea. You will need to enter the complex from that entrance. It was raining the night we went so I am not sure how best to approach the Zone itself, but once inside the casino you will find that the helpful information official will guide you.
The air-conditioned marquee is attractively draped in black and white with elegant chandeliers contained within circular fabric fittings and patrons are seated on two levels at round tables. While the final performances carry special discounted ticket offers, my advice is to splash out and make the evening a special occasion by booking full price tickets through Computicket at R180pp (R1,800 for a table of 10). The gourmet cuisine basket, with welcome beverage and limited complimentary drinks make the ticket price well worth it. Doors open at 19h00. The show includes one interval. A cash bar is also available. – Caroline Smart
Suncoast’s special discounted offer of half-price tickets at R90 for The Motown Show’s final performances from November 25 (tomorrow) to November 27 are available at the door only and simply include the show. All other expenses for your own account.
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