(Samantha Landers, Shylo Pereira & Evan
Roberts)
With the
temporary closure of the Umbilo Rhumbelow Theatre for a few more months, Durban
supper theatre fans are deprived of their favourite type of entertainment.
However, the inimitable and unstoppable Roland Stansell is now focusing on the
Tina’s Hotel venue in Kloof and the current production is well worth heading up
Fields Hill to see.
That’s Life is a three-hander featuring Samantha
Landers, Shylo Pereira and Evan Roberts and is a highly professional and
entertaining look at the lives of two women. This is not your average music
revue but one that includes numbers that require dramatic as well as vocal
diversity. There is excellent synergy between all three performers resulting in
a strong and enjoyable presentation of a wide variety of songs.
Landers
and Pereira created the production because they wanted to showcase their
personal strengths, choosing songs that have meaningful lyrics. They have
certainly succeeded. Their choice of accompanist and fellow vocalist in Evan
Roberts adds to the high level of the show.
The show
starts off with Pereira and Landers with their backs to the audience, as young
girls, arguing with their mother. Linking appropriate numbers, they go on to
complain about their room-mate at school and eventually get to the point where
they discover that they have each been going out with the same man.
Elegantly
dressed, they journey through the dynamics of each number – from the amusing
and hilarious (Girl in 14G) to the
sensitive and gentle or powerful. The show covers well known – and some lesser-known
– songs from the musicals as well as more contemporary numbers. Pereira has
operatic skills and Landers provides the oomph for the jazzy numbers.
Highlights
for me were Pereira’s Popular and Am I Losing
My Mind, which was beautiful in
its desperation, as well as Landers’ poignant I’m Not That Girl and Something’s
Got A Hold of Me. They both shone in the fast-paced and cheeky Never Met A Wolf Who Didn’t Love to Howl
and Don’t Rain On My Parade. They Just Keep Moving The Lines was an
audience favourite as was the highlight of the show, That’s Life.
It’s not
all about women, though. Roberts counters with a robust version of This is a Man’s World, later impressing
with his wistful Pure Imagination.
I loved
their clever closing remark!
Rhumbelow
Tina’s has a fair-sized stage for this kind of production. Lighting is by Sarah
Claxton and sound by Andre Norden. The setting is simple but effective with a
piano, a table and a few chairs. A red curtain brings a dash of colour as does
the feather boa on the hatstand on the other side of the stage.
That’s Life has three more performances tonight and
tomorrow (Friday and Saturday) at 20h00 and on Sunday at 14h00. (Venue opens 90
minutes before show for drinks)
Tickets
R150 (R130 pensioners) and tables seat six. (No alcohol or food may be brought
on to the premises). Tickets are cash or EFT only. Secure parking is available.
Booking is through Computicket or contact Roland (also for large group booking
discounts of 20 or more) on 082 499 8636 or email: roland@stansell.za.net or
visit http://events.durbantheatre.com/
Tina’s
Hotel is situated at 14 Beryldene Road in Kloof. – Caroline Smart
(Should you wish to dine before the show at
Tina’s, it is recommended that you arrive no later than 90 min before show-time
for the restaurant. An a-la-carte menu is available and the Sunday buffet is
R135 per head (R110 pensioners). Booking is essential as seating is limited.
Payment for restaurant is cash, credit card or zapper. Contact 031 764 7843 or
visit www.tinashotel.co.za/ Please indicate that you are a theatre booking when
making your reservation.)
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