(Jonathan Roxmouth
as Liberace)
Jonathan Roxmouth pays tribute to Liberace in a production
not to be missed! (Review by Caroline Smart)
Any show featuring multi-award winning theatre star
Jonathan Roxmouth is always a pleasure and his new piano show Call Me Lee is no exception.
Known as "Lee" to his friends, Liberace was
a worldwide and much loved pianist – generally dubbed “Mr Showmanship”. Born of
an Italian mother and a Polish father, he played most of the world’s top
performance venues and had his own television show.
The major part of his career spanned four decades
from the 1950s to the 1970s during which time he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world. Extravagantly
dressed in splendid spangled outfits, his hands adorned with numerous large
jewelled rings, he always played with his trademark candelabra placed on top of
the piano.
At Rhumbelow, the continued changing
versions of the candelabra from the first simple version to the final ornate one
chart the journey of Liberace’s life as Roxmouth entrances audiences with the
musician’s famous style of wit. This also included Liberace’s way of engaging
with his audience, inviting them to touch his clothes or inspect his jewellery
up close.
Roxmouth has a powerful voice which the
public was introduced to through his roles as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and as the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. He has
successfully subdued this natural resonance and depth to emulate Liberace’s
speech and singing style accurately without making him sound camp.
He’s also an extremely talented and dexterous
pianist (he’s an integral member of Ian von Memerty’s A Handful of Keys) which adds more accuracy to Call Me Lee. A camera focused on the keyboard shows every note he
plays. Dizzy Fingers had me stunned
as did a virtuoso rendition of Chopsticks!
Expect to hear Liberace’s signature I'll Be Seeing You and I'm Always Chasing Rainbows as well as Tiger Rag, Boogie Woogie to the Beer
Barrel Polka and The Blue Danube with
Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky thrown in for good measure. There’s even a
medley of audience requests. Don’t be shy in asking, the result is worth it!
Such an array of splendid glittering costumes by award-winning
designer Lena Olivier have never been seen before at Rhumbelow. For a short
while, we were transported back into history.
Unfortunately,
last night it seemed that every technological gremlin within sight or sound of
Rhumbelow Theatre decided to zoom in, which nearly derailed the first half of
the show.
Any
competent actor or actress can hold their own on stage with minor technical
hitches, but it takes a true professional to get out of trouble without
allowing the audience to be aware that there is a problem. However, when the
problem does becomes obvious, more fancy footwork is required to keep the
audience relaxed .
During
interval, the problems were ironed out and the second act continued without
glitches and this will be the quality of the production that audiences will see
from now on. However, last night’s audience was privileged to watch an
ultra-professional, totally controlled and fast-thinking performer at work.
Jonathan Roxmouth, I take my hat off to you!
Call Me Lee runs
until July 20 with evening performances on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at
19h30, Fridays and Saturdays at 20h00 and Sunday (July 14) at 18h30. There are
matinee shows on Sunday (July 14) and next Saturday (July 20) at 14h00. The venue opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.
Tickets R100 (less 25% pensioners and
tables of eight or more). Take along food picnic baskets and braais will be
available. There is limited secure parking and booking is essential. A cash bar
is available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises). Rhumbelow Theatre
is situated in Cunningham Avenue off Bartle Road. Booking is through
Computicket or contact Roland on 031 205 7602 (h) or 082 499 8636, email roland@stansell.za.net or visit www.rhumbelow.za.net – Caroline Smart
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