|
|
|
|
|
Sing-along will make you warm inside
|
December 1, 2009
By Zane Henry
Summertime
Director: Cedric Vandenschrik
Musical director: Amanda Tiffin
Performers: Cindy Gibbons, Steve Peralta, Sandile Gontsana, Lee Gelderbloem, Joe van der Linden, Morne Smith and Mike Horne
Venue: Roxy Revue Bar
Until: January 16
Rating: ***
This competently performed production at Roxy Revue Bar offers pretty much what you'd expect from a show called Summertime at GrandWest.
It features a litany of universally known hit songs with the words "sun", "sea" or "sand" in the lyrics. Most of them are sing-along numbers with simple, rather inane choruses.
The Beach Boys get prominence with a handful of songs, including, obviously, California Girls. There's also Copacabana, Barry Manilow's ode to murder, lost love and decimated dreams (hmm... happy holidays everyone!). Most of the songs are upbeat party tunes like The Heat Is On and Summertime Blues.
The band hold things down well, with keyboardist and backing vocalist Lee Gelderbloem shining through from the back.
Cindy Gibbons is an engaging performer with sass and sex appeal. She has a good voice and stage presence. Steve Peralta channels his inner rock-god, sometimes coming across as a muscle-bound Freddie Mercury. Sandile Gontsana suffers a bit from nerves and inexperience but acquits himself well.
The banter between the songs is truly awful and should be cut immediately. Stick to the songs and everyone will be grateful.
The set looks like the bar from that old TV show Tropical Heat with its bamboo and surfboards. The lighting and sound at Roxy is always of a high calibre.
The crowd loved the show on the night I attended and were on their feet by the end.
[Email this story...]
[Easy Print...]
|
|
