(Marion Loudon, Tammy
Saville & Chloe Clark)
This is honestly a venture worth supporting, so make sure
you’re there! (Review by Barry Meehan)
One has to take one’s hat off to Roland Stansell, founder of
the Rhumbelow Theatre venues, for trying something completely different to
promote and nurture local talent.
His new venue is the Windsor Tennis Club, which is in James
Henderson Crescent in Glenwood (opposite the Glenwood High School). Shows are
held on Monday evenings, which is traditionally a dark night theatre-wise. But
these events are more than just a show. Tennis
and Tunes is exactly that – tennis from 16h00 to 18h00, followed by some
tunes from 18h00 to 21h00. It’s certainly a novel concept, and a very
entertaining one. But for those who are not sporting types, the tennis is not
compulsory!
The venue itself is a typical Tennis Club, bright and rather
festive. Don’t expect anything fancy – there is no stage, no state-of-the-art
lighting rig, just a warm atmosphere with the performers in a corner of the
room, very casually doing what they do best – singing and playing in a relaxed
fashion and interacting with their audience. There have apparently been
suggestions from various audience members about creating a stage area and
putting in a lighting rig, but Roland is adamant that it remains as is. “It’s a
Tennis Club, people!” he says, “and a Tennis Club it’s going to stay!”
Tickets are only R50 per head (including the tennis) so don’t
expect anything fancy. Drinks are available from the Club bar, as are toasted
sandwiches and boerewors rolls. Good Club fare at very reasonable prices,
served up by hard-working Club members.
So, on to the Tunes. There is a different act every week,
and on the night I was there, we were royally entertained by three
exceptionally talented ladies – The Brunettes – Marion Loudon, Tammy Saville
and Chloe Clark, with a vast repertoire of songs from different genres. Some of
the stand-out numbers were Single Ladies,
Royal, Sweet Dreams, Walking on Sunshine, All About That Bass, Boogie Woogie
Bugle Boy and Valerie.
There were no fancy costumes (Loudon was even in her tennis
shoes!), no pretentiousness, just honest performances from three lovely ladies
enjoying doing what they are very good at – entertaining the crowd. Unfortunately The Brunettes were only on for
this one night, but they are a very professional group – if you get the chance
to see them performing anywhere, make plans!
The line-up for the rest of January is as follows:
January 9: singer/guitarist Gavin Ferguson
January 16: French singer/guitarist Rene Tshiakanyi
January 23: Durban folk legend Miriam Erasmus
January 30: Durban icons Nux Schwartz and Jason Andrew
This is honestly a venture worth supporting, so make sure
you’re there! For more information, contact Roland on 082 499 8636 or email roland@stansell.za.net - Barry Meehan
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