(John Didlick, Grant Bell & Gary Mackenzie)
Gee Jays dispense their winning formula of fun-filled uncomplicated
entertainment. (Review by Keith Millar)
Dispensing their unusual style of uncomplicated entertainment at the
Heritage Theatre in Hillcrest this festive season, are the evergreen and ever
popular Gee Jays. In a sequel to their tribute to the 1970’s, Don’t Tune Me – Ek Sé, they are
presenting a new fun-filled show called Don’t
Tune Me Again - Ek Sé.
With the Gee Jays, you know what you are going to get. Unpretentious, straightforward
good humour and good music performed by a trio of experienced entertainers.
The humour is corny, risqué and good fun. As usual, John Didlick plays
the dumb clown who gets everything mixed up, while Grant Bell and Gary
Mackenzie have to correct his faux pas
and try to keep him on the straight and narrow. All three participate in providing
some fine 70’s music which takes the audience down memory lane and has them
joyfully singing along.
The show offers everything from cheesy pop songs to a bit of hard rock -
and includes along the way South African hits, Country and Western, Reggae,
and even an Elvis Presley tribute. You hear songs such as Show Me The Way To Amarillo, Mellow
Yellow, Man On The Moon, Beautiful
Sunday, Clap Your Hands, Lookin’ Out My
Back Door, The Piño Colada Song, Long
Cool Woman In a Black Dress, Kung Foo Fighting, Wichita Lineman and No Woman No Cry, amongst many others.
The Elvis tribute is great fun as the three performers try to outdo each
other with increasingly bizarre catsuits. They do a credible job as Elvis impersonators
with songs such as The Wonder of You,
Suspicious Minds, and Burning Love.
The highlight for me was the final segment when they belted out some
rock standards like Jethro Tull’s Locomotive
Breath, Golden Earring’s Radar Love
and The Rolling Stone’s Honky Tonky Woman.
Enough to get the adrenalin pumping.
All the segments are linked together with sound clips of old
Springbok Radio programmes and commercials. These take the audience on a nostalgic
trip down memory lane.
The very accomplished and talented backing group for this show is comprised
of the musical director Calli Thompson on keyboards, Andy Tyrrell on lead
guitar, Chili Jilli Murraybrown on bass and Francois Hardy on drums. Their
backing is excellent, and they do a couple of songs themselves.
The Heritage Theatre menu has been freshened up for this show and, as
usual, offers first-rate fare. For starters, there is Spiced Pear and Butternut
Soup, Chicken Liver and Cranberry Parfait, a Seafood Cocktail and, as a Chef’s
special for an extra R20, a Kudu Carpaccio. From the choices made at our table,
the Carpaccio and Seafood cocktail were greatly enjoyed and can be recommended.
Main Courses comprise Oven Baked Fish Fillets, a Chicken Tagine, Smoked
Glazed Gammon and a Parmigiano di Melenzane for the vegetarians. My wife and I
were blown away by the Gammon. Cooked to perfection and with a superb Honey and
Mustard Vinaigrette, it felt as if Christmas Day had arrived early. Our friend
had the Lamb Shank which was available for an extra R60. She was very happy and
felt that it met the traditional Heritage quality. Desserts are available as an
extra
While the Gee Jays offer new material in their show Don’t Tune Me Again – Ek Sé, they stick to their old winning
formula of presentation. Gee Jay’s fans, and there are many of them, will enjoy
this offering as will anyone who is after a fun night out over the festive
season.
Don’t Tune Me Again – Ek Sé runs at the Heritage Theatre in Hillcrest
until December 31. Ticket prices R215 pp Wednesdays to Saturdays (R185 pp
Tuesday evenings and Sunday lunch time.) All prices include a delicious
two-course meal. (Lamb shanks are also back on the menu at a slightly extra
cost). A non-dining “show only” option is also offered at R120 pp. Bookings on 031 765 4197 or online
at http://www.heritagetheatre.co.za/
- Keith Millar
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