UNPLUCKED

(Pic: Aaron McIlroy and DJ KingB)

Aaron McIlroy’s new show impressively staged and full of his usual madcap energy! (Review by Caroline Smart)

It’s all there – the expected madcap energy and frenetic mayhem, wild looks, off-the-wall humour and equally manic movement – including an impressive turn-around leap in mid-air. Fans of Aaron McIlroy will not be disappointed with his latest show, Unplucked which opened tonight at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre to enthusiastic response from a packed audience.

The difference with this show is the inclusion of DJ KingB – a good choice as his hip-hop style works well as links for the appearances of well-known and popular characters that have come into the McIlroy repertoire over a period of about 15 years. There’s the stuttering wife-dominated Bruce Syringenson in hectic yellow takkies; the vertically challenged drug mule Pepe Gonzales; spaced out guitarist Gary van Vuuren; alien buster Nigel Bjorn van Rensburg in battle fatigues, and the elegant Lavern Levine who’s become an expert in bedroom golf.

There’s also long-time favourite Veejay Moodley who seems to be a bit downplayed this time around but just as sharp as ever.

Along the way, as always, you’ll get a tantalising glimpse of the fact that Aaron is a very good singer but he sends the songs up so you don’t reap the full benefit of his voice except in the Elvis Presley number at the end. Even then, this morphs into comedy before it becomes too serious!

The stage setting is impressive with massive panels carrying photographs of Aaron as a couple of his characters. Flanked by stairs, the raised stage offers varying levels of performance while providing a cubicle for DJ KingB’s mixing desk. A clever innovation is that, instead of curtains hiding the empty space behind DJ KingB, there is a divided panel carrying an image of the lower half of his face, in keeping with the stage’s photographic element.

Unplucked runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre until November 29 with performances Tuesdays to Saturdays at 19h30 (Sundays at 18h00). Tickets R85. Tickets for Aaron’s shows move fast so book now to avoid disappointment through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or online at www.computicket.co.za – Caroline Smart