(John Didlick and Marion Loudon as the King and Queen with Jonathan Didlick as their son)Highly entertaining, professional and gifted performance of Presley and Queen’s greatest hits. (Review by Cassandra Schijf)
I went with an open mind to see the re-run of this popular show as I had never been to the Heritage Theatre before and was pleasantly surprised. The feel is similar to that of the Barnyard but with a smaller, intimate and more formal layout with comfortable chairs. The idea of eating on arrival, followed by dessert at interval gives the audience a chance to order drinks, chat and catch up with friends at their tables and, more importantly, not to rudely chat during the show, as often happens with some theatres and venues.
The vegetable soup starter was simply amazing (note to self to pre-order a batch for winter – they do outside catering, too) and the raved-about Lamb Shank wasn’t given enough of a rave, in my opinion! My partner had the Chicken Tagine dish, which was flavoursome, although it could have done with some more chicken. Our waiter was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about the dishes without being irritating.
The thought of a production merging the sounds of the King - Elvis Presley - and the Queen – Freddie Mercury - was quite a daunting one for me! However, it was actually a very smooth, enjoyable and upbeat blend of some of their greatest hits.
From the Elvis’s repertoire, we had his famous foot-tapping Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, Devil in Disguise and Heartbreak Hotel, whilst the Queen’s offer for the show included We Will Rock You, I Want to Break Free, Bohemian Rhapsody and the crowd-pleasing We Are The Champions.
The songs were linked with a humorous, light storyline of a King and Queen and their ageing relationship, sung to short rhymes to blend the transition between numbers. The son of the royal pair, Jonathan Didlick, added his youthful energy to his Queen songs and struck the right “Freddie” moves and hit the right notes, really giving a superb performance.
The King was played by the well-known John Didlick (Jonathan’s real father!) and had his own outfits and moves for his Elvis tributes down to a T. The audience loved his humorous gestures and playful relationship on stage with his wife and Queen, the amazing Marion Loudon. Marion was a truly graceful and talented performer to watch, balancing out the strength of the on-stage band and both Didlicks! She was as poised and light as a dancer at all times, but still a powerful force.
The band is led by Dawn Selby on her electric keyboard and they had their own moments of glory. Showing off their talents and voices, they gave a great performance and provided excellent support for the vocalists. The sound was clear but not too loud, and the lighting was complimenting. Another advantage of a smaller venue is the closeness to the performers so audience members don’t miss a thing!
Overall, highly entertaining, professional and gifted performances all-round in a show I most certainly recommend! A fantastic venue and great value for money for a night out. Get there if you can, before it ends on Sunday. I will definitely return for their next show, How to Catch a Cougar, starting on March 13.
King and Queen runs until March 11 at the Heritage Theatre in Hillcrest. Tickets include a two-course meal and show (desserts and drinks for patron’s own account). Performances Wednesday to Saturday at 19h00 for the show at 20h30 with tickets at R195. The final show on Sunday is at 12h30 for 14h00 with tickets at R165. Booking is essential on 031 765 4197 or online at www.heritagetheatre.co.za
The Heritage Theatre is situated in Hillcrest Heritage Market. There is safe parking in the undercover area which has direct access to the theatre. - Cassandra Schijf
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