(Pic: The Centrestage cast!)Port Elizabeth-based production company, Centrestage, responsible for the popular music and comedy collaboration series The Magnificent 7 with Aaron McIlroy, brings its powerhouse band back to Durban’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre to showcase three hit shows.
The Crazy 80’s Centrestage!, running from March 24 until April 4, sees the Centrestage All-Star Band joined by comedian Mark Banks to take a light-hearted look back at the decade which spawned lycra, bad taste, outrageous fashion, the mullet hairstyle and neo stuff.
“Mark Banks will use ‘the gift of hind-sight’ along with his acerbic and irreverent wit to look back and remind us about this schizophrenic decade, which in many respects was a time that the fashion police clearly forgot,” says producer, Gary Hemmings. “The 80’s was the era which provided the now nostalgic soundtrack to the misspent youth of the middle-aged of today – and Banks reminds us of the bitter-sweet embarrassment and inexplicable folly that went along with it all. Musically, stadium rock, new wave, electronic and pop metal were blended and commercial, catchy hooks and increased pop aesthetic was embraced. This was the age which launched a new level of lighters aloft, with the marriage of guitar and keyboards creating an absolutely distinctive sound for the time.”
Against this backdrop, The 12 piece Centrestage All-Star band will be joined by a brass section and three keyboards to recreate the huge 80’s sound with the same kind of authenticity and sheer energetic entertainment which was so apparent in their previous Magnificent 7 outings. The show is jam-packed with hits by the likes of Duran Duran, The Eurhythmics, AHA, Talking Heads, Wham!, Dexys Midnight Runners, Bananarama, Talking Heads, Reo Speedwagon, Foreigner and Yazoo.
The energetic Wayne Kallis performs as John Cougar Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen, Donna Africa takes the stage as Tina Turner and Madonna, while Lani Botha pays tribute to Blondie and Cindy Lauper. The electric Melvyn Matthews, last seen in Durban tearing up the stage as Bob Marley in The Magnificent 7 2, takes on the role of Michael Jackson, while musical director Donovan Hattingh is Huey Lewis.
The Crazy 80’s Centrestage offers a whirlwind of the best music and comedy combined, from a company which has proved its pedigree and thrives on entertaining its audiences o the hilt. The show will represent the sixth run that the Centrestage All-Star Band will be staging in Durban, their last outing before this being to perform Elvis Centrestage for the Playhouse Company in 2008. Durban’s lighting whiz Michael Broderick is set to weave his customary magic in lighting the acclaimed show for its Sneddon season.
The Crazy 80’s Centrestage! runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon from March 24 until April 4. This will be followed by six performances of Centrestage’s 70’s salute The Magnificent 70’s from April 7 to11, before the final week sees The Best of Magnificent 7 1 & 2 taking place at the Sneddon from April 13 to17.
Tickets start at R95 booked through Computicket or call 083 915 8000. For more information see www.centrestage.co.za
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