(Above: Roland Perold & Godfrey Johnson. Pic by Bash Siddiqi)
The show may have been better titled the “Good Fun Cabaret” because that’s what it is. Two consummate performers offering an evening of off-the-wall, irreverent humour. (Review by Keith Millar)
Two of South Africa’s leading cabaret artists, Godfrey Johnson, and Roland Perold, have got together to present a new cabaret show which will be on at the Rhumbelow Theatre until December 31.
Now, if you know these two artists you will be forgiven for expecting a bit of Noel Coward and Cole Porter with possibly a bit of Jacques Brel and something from the heydays of musical theatre thrown in for good measure.
Well, not this time. Most of the show is a madcap march of good fun and quirky humour.
Noel Coward does get a look in, but only from the humorous side of his repertoire with the likes of Every Little Fish – which is mashed with Alan Alda’s It’s A Fish – as well as Nina From Argentina and Mad Dogs and English Man.
For the rest, with two exceptions, it is comedy all the way.
There was only one piano (or rather a keyboard which sounds pretty much like a piano) on stage. And the duo takes it in turns, and occasionally together, to play it. It goes without saying that their skills at the instrument in the context of this show are rather impressive.
They sing a variety of amusing songs. Some rather well-known and others rather obscure.
Included are I Got It From Agnes by Tom Lehrer, I’m Getting Married by Stephen Sondheim, Inflatable You by Tim Minchin, Mrs Davenport by Kinosian and Blair, Short People by Randy Newman Shattered Illusions by Fascinating Aida.
On the more serious side, they performed Talent to Amuse by Noel Coward and The Rose made famous by Bette Milder. But even these were sent up a bit.
The title of the show Good News Comedy was a bit confusing. Beyond playing a Good News refrain in different keys at regular intervals on the piano they did not share any particularly good news with the audience. In fact, they complained about the torrential rain and Eskom rather too regularly.
The show may have been better titled the Good Fun Cabaret because that’s what it is. Two consummate performers offering an evening of off-the-wall, irreverent humour.
If this is your thing, then you will want to get to the Rhumbelow Theatre before the end of the year.
Shows run from
December 15 to 17
at 19h00 and on December 18 at 14h00.
December 21 to 23
at 19h00 and on December 24 at 19h00
December 28 to 31 at 19h00
Tickets R180 - “2 for 1 special” discount offered
for the first five pairs of tickets sold for each performance at Computicket.
Bring food picnic baskets or buy at the venue. Bar available (no alcohol may be brought onto the premises). There is limited secure parking.
Booking is essential on email: roland@stansell.co.za or through Computicket
For more information contact 082 499 8636 or visit http://events.durbantheatre.com/ -
Keith Millar
Posts
