(Vivienne & Ian von Memerty. Pics by Val Adamson Photography)
The show is full of
quicksilver footwork, a fantastic range of well-known numbers and much humour.
(Review by Caroline Smart)
Elegantly
dressed and swathed in a dramatic aura of blue light, consummate entertainer Ian von
Memerty, immediately captures a warm response from the audience with I’ve Got Rhythm. He’s charming, funny, a
talented singer, dancer and pianist and the stage is set for a delightful
evening of Putting on the Glitz which
has a short run at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre until April 7, 2019.
Smoothly
moving into the next number, von Memerty is joined by his wife, Vivienne (Lawrence)
who is equally elegant and dressed in sequins and a swirling skirt that billows
round her as she pirouettes.
A former
SA National Latin & Ballroom Champion, Vivienne is well-known for her
beautiful dancing and her gorgeous long legs. In this production, she also
proves her versatility in just about every dance style under the sun. She also
has no less than 21 changes of costume – many of which she has made herself –
from glorious sequins to attractive African prints. Ian also changes costume –
but mostly it’s changing waistcoats or reversing them! He proudly points out
that he personally sewed 1,342 beads on one of Vivienne’s outfits.
The show
is full of quicksilver footwork, a fantastic range of well-known numbers, often
linking them in medleys. There are also some very impressive dance moves where
Ian lifts Vivienne onto his shoulders, swings her round and then lowers her
down to the splits. It is really great to watch two such experienced and
talented dancers ignoring the test of time and still capable of full-on physical
energy.
Ian and
Vivienne have been married for 28 years and tell the audience with delight that
they are now free from numerous duties as they no longer have school-going
children. They love working and travelling together and so they have gained
considerable – and highly enjoyable – experience working as guest artists on
luxury liners.
Putting on the Glitz is made up of two productions they
performed on the liners - A Touch of
Class and the African Elegance Show.
These also release an abundance of highly amusing memories with Ian showing his
versatility with accents as he relates some of the stories and acts out
anything from a doddery old man to a snobbish upper-class woman.
Because
the audiences on the cruise liners come from all parts of the world, they
concentrated on classic numbers that would be familiar to everyone.
A Touch of Class covers favourites
such as In The Mood, Putting On The Ritz, Sway and The Samba, Never Had A Friend Like Me, Stepping Out with
My Baby, In the
Mood
The African Elegance Show was designed to give passengers a taste of South
Africa which gives the pair the chance to bounce through numbers like Waka Waka, Home Talk and Pata Pata, singing in
languages from isiZulu to Afrikaans: Homeless and Lakushone Langa were reminders that this country carries a lot of
pain.
Memorable
for me were Ian’s piano medley from Bohemian
Rhapsody, his poignant interpretation of Memory as well as Mr Bojangles, where he gave the song all the sensitivity it calls
for.
The show is enhanced by superb
lighting design by Lesley Maherry.
Putting on the Glitz is family friendly
and runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre until April 7, 2019, with shows
Wednesday to Saturday at 19h30 and on Sunday at 15h00. There will be an extra
show on Saturday at 15h00. Tickets cost between R145 and R160 (pensioner
discounts throughout). Booking is through Computicket or cash at the door. –
Caroline Smart
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