(Sean
Stewart; Grant Emmerich; Belinda Henwood;
Jochen Zeller & Anton
Cawthorn-Blazeby)
An original and hugely-entertaining musical
feast. (Review by Barry Meehan)
From the moment the South Jersey Pom-Poms
hit the stage – no, make that from the moment you enter the Tina’s Hotel venue
– you know you’re in for something different by way of an evening’s
entertainment. And, boy, is this different!
Eclectic is probably the best word to
describe the South Jersey Pom Poms – eclectic in their styles, their costuming,
their performance and their music, which is all 100% original, a collaboration
by these five incredibly talented local musos. Don’t let the fact that you will
have to wait for the encore for a song that you’ll recognise – their music is
sharp, sassy, bitingly amusing and rhythm driven. There is never a dull moment
in this powerhouse performance that mesmerised their first night audience.
The five members of the group – Belinda Henwood
(MC, vocals, keyboard and piano accordion), Jochen Zeller on guitar, Sean
Stewart on bass, Anton Cawthorn-Blazeby on violin and Grant Emmerich on a
monster drumkit, obviously thoroughly enjoyed every minute of their time on
stage, drawing the audience in with their joie de vivre and skilled interaction
with each other, both scripted and off-the-cuff.
The first half positively flew by, with
notable numbers such as Science and
Fashion, the Facebook song, Too Slow
for the Fast Lane, Le Dernier Mot
(in French, obviously), Non Basta
(Italian) and the incredibly rousing Drunken
Bvlgarian Girls to bring the curtain down.
The question was posed at interval as to
what genre their music fell into. There is no definitive answer to this, but
burlesque cabaret comes closest to describing it. Think Moulin Rouge, Cabaret, Burlesque with Madame Zingara overtones, and
you might come close.
And then, just when you think you’ve got
the South Jersey Pom Poms categorised, the second half starts off with a
country feel! And not just normal country, but country in German, no less. Then
the cleverest number in the production – you think you’re in for Ghost Riders In The Sky, but it suddenly
becomes The Sticker Song about those
people who drive around with their families advertised on the rear windows of
their vehicles!
Other standout numbers in the second half
are A Jack of All Trades, the bird
song and Gypsy Tequila, which brings
the show to a close, before the encore – their great version of a Sonny and
Cher classic.
The South Jersey Pom Poms are one of the
tightest musical groups on the local scene, their multi-layered rhythms driving
an evening of delicious entertainment. Special mention must be made of the
technical crew – Colin Peddie (a maestro on the sound desk); Donna on lighting
(subtle, subtle, subtle!), and Stephen Woodroffe, who put together the
remarkably entertaining video clips, which added intriguing dimensions to the
overall look and feel, without detracting from it at all. Look out for the
Charlie Chaplin tightrope sequence and the Bob Fosse choreography sequence from
Sweet Charity, to mention just a
couple.
Much as I don’t like singling anyone out in
this ultra-tight ensemble, special mention has to be made of Belinda Henwood.
We’re accustomed to her very professional performances in KickstArt pantos etc,
but she really comes to the fore in the South Jersey Pom Poms. Suddenly we’re
faced with a whole new dimension of Belinda, with her superb and on-point
singing, her keyboard and piano accordion virtuosity, and her wonderfully
charming stage presence. I wish the South Jersey Pom Poms every success in the
future, and trust that they will reach incredible heights with their original
and hugely-entertaining musical feast.
The South Jersey Pom-Poms will give two more
performances: tonight (May 5) at 20h00 and tomorrow (May 6) at 14h00 at Tina’s
Hotel. (Venue opens 60 minutes before show for drinks)
Tickets R150 (R130 pensioners) and tables
seat 6. (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. Do not miss this show! – Barry Meehan
(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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