(Anthony Stonier)
(Review
by Keith Millar)
If you
are a music lover - and who isn’t? - then the Rhumbelow Theatres in Durban,
Kloof and Pietermaritzburg should be the destination for you. Each weekend,
Durban’s leading musicians present excellent revues that include great music
from all genres. Be it rock, jazz and blues, soul, folk or music from the
musicals, you should find something to satisfy your tastes.
This
weekend it was the turn of veteran Durban performer Anthony Stonier to
entertain at the Rhumbelow Theatre in Durban.
Stonier
is perhaps best known for his many appearances as one of the Dames in Durban’s
regular Christmas adult panto. However, he is also a fine singer with a strong
and versatile baritone voice and a love for the music from the world’s great
musicals.
Over the
years, he has devised several revues showcasing this music in different
combinations. This time he has called his compilation Showstoppers and it features the songs which, when first heard, has
had such an impact on the audience that they have broken into spontaneous applause
and brought the show to a stop.
In all,
his production included 20 songs, each from a different musical, and
incorporated many of the most memorable songs of all times. Included in the
programme is Summertime from
Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, If I Were a
Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof,
Memories from Cats, Mr Cellophane from Chicago, Dream the Impossible Dream from The Man of La Mancha, Master of the House from Les Misérables, Oh What A Beautiful Morning
from Oklahoma, Hello Young Lovers from The
King and I, Bring On The Clowns from A Little Night Music, Maria
from West Side Story and People Who Need People from Funny Girl.
Stonier
performed the music to backtracks. Although they were of good quality and fully
orchestrated, I felt that the show would have benefited if some of, or perhaps
all, the music was sung with the accompaniment of a piano. I am a great
advocate of live music and I feel this would have given the show some
personality and the pizzazz it lacked.
As it
was, there was a sameness about all 20 songs and I felt that it would have been
no different had I sat at home and listened to CD’s on my sound system.
Showstoppers was on at the Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo
for this past weekend only. However, if you are a fan of show music, I suggest
you keep your eye out for Anthony Stonier. He is sure to be back with another
compilation soon.
Rhumbelow
Durban is situated at 42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road in Umbilo. For more information
contact Roland on email roland@stansell.za.net or visit http://events.durbantheatre.com– Keith Millar
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