(Themba January, Raymond Ray, Savannah De Beer, Callie Thomson & Kyle Mathews)
Everything you expect from the Barnyard is there – excellent lighting, powerful sound, a highly talented cast and musicians, great costume line-up – all making for a refreshingly energetic night out. (Review by Caroline Smart)
What a delight to see people up and dancing, singing along to the popular numbers they know so well and forgetting their lockdown blues. Such energy, such joy and such spontaneous appreciation of the performers.
This is Rocking round the Globe which sees the re-opening of the Barnyard Theatre at Suncoast Casino, after eight months of Covid-19 lockdown.
Everything you expect from the Barnyard is there – excellent lighting, powerful sound, a highly talented cast and musicians, great costume line-up – all making for a refreshingly energetic night out. The only difference is that audience numbers have to be reduced because of safety protocols so there’s a limit as to how many people can sit at a table. All other safety protocols are there
The show opens with Kyle Mathews and Themba January dressed as pilots informing the audience that they are about to board a flight that will take them around the world. As the journey moved to a different country, they are encouraged to raise their glasses on a particular cue and shout “Lift Off”. The audience were right on track from the start, all ready to party big-time, to visit Greece, Ireland, Spain, Jamaica, Italy, Australia, the UK, USA and South Africa.
The cast features Mathews and January on vocals along with Raymond Ray and Savannah De Beer who has come a long way since I first saw her in a show at Rockwood.
The musical director is Callie Thomson who is on keyboards, holding the fast-paced production all together. The musicians are Barry Thomson alternating with Jason Kylen on guitar; Bongane Sokhele on bass, Dylan van der Linde on drums and Kirsty van der Linde on sax.
Mathews is undoubtedly the star of the show with January getting full marks for dance moves. Surprise of the evening was to see van der Linde in a dance line for the first time.
A major highlight was Jason Kylen holding the audience enthralled with his versions of the British and American national anthems, performing on an electric guitar made by Shawn O’Neill, a local luthier who lives in Cowies Hill.
Song highlights were Gypsy Kings’ Volare; Sunday Bloody Sunday & Pride by U2 and Pour Some Sugar / We Will Rock You by Def Leppard & Queen.
Topping the list were Three little Birds / One Love - Bob Marley; Poker Face / Bad Romance – Lady Gaga; U Can’t Touch This - M C Hammer and particularly Johnny Clegg’s Impi. Also impressing were Shibobo - TK Zee; Master KG’s smash-hit Jerusalema and Jump by Van Halen.
Rocking round the Globe is directed by Duck Chowles and choreographed by Drew Mathie.
The show runs until February 12, 2021, and currently has performances only on Fridays and Saturdays at 19h30 and Sundays at 14h30. Audience numbers are limited to 250, therefore early booking is advised.
Tickets R195 (half price on Sunday afternoons for pensioners and children under 12). Telephonic bookings only on 031 940 0500.
Take along your own picnic or buy pizzas from the venue. No alcohol may be brought in – a cash bar is available. The Barnyard Theatre is situated alongside the Suncoast Casino - enter through the main Suncoast and park next to the venue. – Caroline Smart
Posts
