Unique and entertaining Cole Porter ballet while
the dance is out of the top drawer. (Review by Keith Millar)
South Africa’s oldest ballet company, the
Cape Town City Ballet, graced Durban with a visit over this weekend to present
their amazing and glittering production of Night
and Day in the Playhouse Opera.
Based on the life and the glorious music of
legendry American songwriter, Cole Porter, the ballet company lived up to their
mission statement which is to “Deliver unique, world-class, dance
entertainment”.
Night
and Day certainly is unique and entertaining, while
the dance is out of the top drawer.
Cole Porter’s wonderful music has style,
drama and wit, and with its memorable melodies and complex rhythms makes an
ideal accompaniment to the glamour and variety of dance.
Unforgettable songs such as Night and Day, Anything Goes, De Lovely, I Get
a Kick Out of You, Miss Otis Regrets, Too Darn Hot, Begin The Beguine, It’s
Just One of Those Things, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, In The Still Of The Night,
are just a few of this remarkable songwriter’s portfolio which are used in this
production.
A bonus was the appearance of Durban sax
player, Martin Sigamoney, who added a dramatic live element to few of the
numbers, such as You’d Be So Nice To Come
Home To, and Every Time We Say
Goodbye.
The choreography is superb throughout. Mainly
by Robin Van Wyk (an ex KZN dancer), it fuses elements of everything from tap
and the Charleston to ballroom and contemporary dance with all the elegance and
grace of classic ballet. The result is a stunning and beautiful mix which could
be described as ballet with a sway of the hips.
Cole Porter’s life story is related through
the dance. Everything is included: his opulent life style, his meeting and
marriage to Linda Lee Thomas, his homosexuality, his infidelities and
reconciliations and finally his horse riding accident and the death of his
beloved wife.
The role of Cole Porter was danced with
skill and aplomb by Johnny Bevang. However, he should possibly lose the stuck-on
grin from time to time - particularly during the more dramatic moments. Kim
Vieira is delicate and vulnerable in the role of Linda Lee Porter.
The sets and backdrops were simple but
effective with scenes taking place in Paris, Venice, New York and Hollywood. The
costume design is excellent and effectively sets the period of the work in the
1920’s to early 1950’s, while the lighting design enhances the entire
production.
Night
and Day is a delightful ballet and it can only hoped
that it gets its due support from the Durban public. There are two performances
left in the Playhouse Opera: tonight and tomorrow (July 6 and 7) at 19h30. Tickets
R120 booked at Computicket or the Playhouse box office. – Keith Millar
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