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Parade of hits
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December 1, 2009
 By Billy Suter
Stage
Party Time!
Heritage Theatre, Hillcrest
Black-Eyed Peas, Pink, Mungo Jerry, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Maroon 5, Miami Sound Machine, Santana, Chuck Berry, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Bryan Adams ...
There's a fun outpouring of hits, both old and not too distant, as well as plenty of Latino music, in this latest, fast-moving entertainment package from Durban producer Gary McKenzie.
Yet another musical compilation show under the deft musical direction of Dawn Selby, who also handles keyboards and backing vocals, the production also features other Heritage Theatre favourites in popular singer-guitarist Barry Thomson, drummer Mali Sewell and bassist Lloyd de Gier.
Adding to the sound now is percussionist Mark Whittaker, who takes centre spotlight on a stage shimmering with sequinned fabric and a backdrop of white fairylights, while additional guitar work comes from crowd-pleaser Andrew Webster, most recently seen at Sibaya Casino, near Umhlanga, in the Stuart Mey-produced Masters of Rock.
Great to see Webster settled once more in his hometown after relocating to Joburg just over a decade ago, and good to hear him singing again. He's a deft mover, oozes a very easy charm and confidence and gels well with his fellow vocalists.
His sidekicks in song in Party Time! are bubbly Heritage Theatre regulars Marion Loudon and Jonothan Didlick, both of whom have upped their game enormously in the past year.
Loudon is as exuberant as ever, displaying one of the best pairs of legs on a KwaZulu-Natal stage; and Didlick is looking and sounding fit and fab after months of hitting the gym.
The trio, in a parade of colourful costumes created by Megan McKenzie, is quick to, in the words of the Pink song that opens the show, get the party started, keeping patter to a minimum to let the hits they perform speak for themselves.
I'd have made some different song choices - Objection is probably Shakira's most boring song and Summer Nights, from Grease, while performed very well by Didlick and Loudon, seems just a little awkward here, especially so early in the programme, as the fourth song of the night. You're the One That I Want might have worked better.
Still, these are very small quibbles, as Party Time! exists for no other reason than for its audience to feel uplifted, starting with a tapping of the fingers and building to an on-the-feet finale of Kool and the Gang's Celebration.
Highlights include Loudon's delivery of Transvision Vamp's I Want Your Love and, with the guys, The B52's classic Love Shack.
Also of note are Didlick performing This Love (Maroon 5) and, with Thomson, a fun rendition of Tone Loc's Funky Cold Medina; and Webster, with guitar, performing Bryan Adam's 18 Till I Die and, with Loudon and Didlick, Kid Rock's All Summer Long.
Better moments, however, come in two medleys - one devoted to the hits of The Gipsy Kings, the other to the chart-toppers of Santana, in which Thomson shines.
Thomson also comes to the fore in two ballads - offering a fine vocal with Dobie Gray's 70s slowie, Drift Away, and playing acoustic guitar as he and Webster take to bar stools for a harmony-flecked glide through Extreme's brilliant ballad, More Than Words.
Featuring choreography by Fiona Barnes, and lighting and sound design by Tina le Roux and Colin Peddie, respectively, Party Time! is to be seen until December 31.
The show is presented, as usual, with a two-course meal and it's a very good one. Besides the ever-excellent lamb shanks, for which the venue is now renowned, turkey with veg, and a butternut, sweet potato and feta bake are also on the menu, although I can highly recommend the linefish (dorado). Note, too, that the starter choice apple crumble salad (caramelised apples with candied nuts and blue cheese on lettuce, with balsamic dressing) is terrific. Pud choices are optional extras.
Tickets for the meal and show cost R165 on Tuesdays (7pm) and Sunday afternoons (12.30pm), and R190 Wednesdays to Saturdays (7pm). To book, contact 031 765 4197.
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