(The show’s publicity photo featuring Darren
King as two personas)
Unusual cabaret styled production. (Review by Keith Millar)
One of the musical offerings at the Hilton Arts Festival this year was
Darren King’s unusual cabaret styled production entitled WO-MAN.
King is a popular Durban performer and musical theatre regular. During
the show he talks about his life, the trials and tribulations he has endured,
and the influence musical theatre has had on his development over many years. With
piano backing from the very accomplished Evan Roberts, he sings songs from many
of the shows he has appeared in, or has loved.
The unusual part is that he sings all the songs that are normally sung
by women.
He performs songs such as Something
Better Than This from Sweet Charity,
Something Wonderful from The King and I, Don’t Rain On My Parade from Funny
Girl, As Long As He Needs Me from
Oliver, I Don’t Know How To Love Him
from Jesus Christ Super Star, Kiss The Day Goodbye from A Chorus Line, I Dreamed A Dream from Les
Misérables, As If We Never Said
Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard and
Somewhere from West Side Story.
King has a very nice light voice so he does justice to all of these
songs - and it must be said that a great song remains a great song as long as
it is well sung. It goes without saying that Roberts’ backing was spot on and
very complimentary to King’s singing style.
The Arts Centre at Hilton College is a rustic venue which is both
spacious and cool. It is ideal for this sort of cabaret presentation. All in
all it was a pleasant and relaxed way to spend a blazing hot Sunday afternoon
at the festival. – Keith Millar
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