Another polished, professional, most entertaining production by the long established Westville Theatre Club. (Review by Maurice Kort)The Westville Theatre Club has once again delivered a double-bill to end off the year with a bang. The first half, An Invitation to Cocktails, has the cast of 14 very talented singers in smart dress suits and very elegant evening dresses enjoying cocktails while enthralling the audience with the everlasting songs of Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. You cannot beat or tire of those evergreens. They don't write songs like that any more. They are accompanied by a live band of Heather Dix on piano (also the Musical Director), Paul Prydderch on bass guitar (replaced by Hylton Blignaut on December 17) and Richard Tempest on drums. The atmosphere of a live band adds so much to a show of this nature.
In total, 27 songs are showcased, starting with the delightful and seldom heard There's a Small Hotel by Sue Watt and Geoff Shaw. It is a delight to see the many familiar faces - and voices - again who do full justice to the repertoire. Every song is a delight and particularly enjoyable were Let's Do It (Jacquie Van Belkum), Top Hat, White Tie and Tails (Steve Joubert), So In Love (Bryan Payne and Helena Joubert), That's Why the Lady is a Tramp (Sylvia Tempest), A Couple of Song and Dance Men (Lawrence Sysum and Geoff Shaw), I Love a Piano (Jill Sysum, who also devised and directed the show), You're the Top (the six male members of the cast) and Let's Misbehave (Sue Watt, Sylvia Tempest and Jill Sysum). Coney Bundock, accompanied by her husband, Ivor Bundock, gave a star turn in the dance number Argentinean Tango and also sparkled centre stage in the reprise of Let's Misbehave sung by the cast. Completing the ensemble were Kevin Hillier and Caroline Thomas.
After the interval there is a welcome repeat of one of the Club's very popular past one act plays, Dinner for One, first seen in 2001 and repeated in 2005. It again features Geoff Shaw as the Butler and Jill Sysum as the Matriarch in standout performances and it has lost none of its sparkle. They can repeat it again and again as their Christmas treat.
Assisting behind the scenes to make this the slick production what it is were Lynda Hoddinott (costumes), Ross Thomson (lights and sound), Laura Lee (front of house), Malcolm Dix (backstage) and Sara Els (choreographer for ArgentineanTango ).
Ending the sparkling evening were excellent renditions of White Christmas, I Wonder Why/You're Just in Love and, as an encore, The Piccolino by the full cast.
An Invitation to Cocktails (and) Dinner for One can be seen at the Westville Theatre Club until December18 at 20h00. Booking is on 031 764 2559 (o/h) or 084 581 0690 (after hours). Tickets are a very reasonable R40pp. Bring your own picnic and drinks. There is a car guard on the premises.
There will also be a New Year’s Eve performance of the show, followed afterwards by a New Year’s Eve party where one can enjoy a glass of “champers” at midnight. Again, bring-your-own food and drink and party the night away. Numbers are limited, though, with booking contacts as above at R50pp. It can be noted that the Westville Theatre Club always donates a percentage of their show profits to the St Thomas Children’s Home and also supports the Emaus Mission orphans ‘drop off Centre”. – Maurice Kort
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