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f you’re working your way through the list of supper theatre shows to decide on the venue for your final fling for 2009 or dance your way into “the big 2010” then ‘ROCK ON! Beethoven’ is probably your best bet. It certainly had revellers on their feet and dancing on tables when I attended.
Songs featured include ‘Viva La Vida’, ‘Rock ‘n Roll Music’, ‘It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me’, ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Another Brick In The Wall’, a Toto medley that includes ‘I’ll Be Over You’, ‘Rosanna’ and ‘Hold The Line’, ‘Walking On Sunshine’, ‘Oh What A Night’, ‘Summer of 69’ and, of course, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’.
The show stars piano maestro Roelof Colyn as Beethoven, Percy Smith and Stephan Nel on male vocals and Felicity Kiran – undeniably the star of the show - on female vocals.
In fact, when it comes to accolades, this is probably a girls’ show. Violinist Jane Baillie is a fun personality and an extremely capable musician who probably does far more than even good old Beethoven to take the classics into the realm of rock. She also provides plenty of eye candy for the guys as does saxophonist Kirsty Madgin.
Kirsty has come really far and is nothing like the shy musician doing her best to stay in the background at the now defunct Dockyard Supper Theatre. Her newfound confidence sees her moving around the stage throughout the show as well as adding a few words when challenged by the over-the-top front man. A new blonde hairdo and some short dresses complete the package. However, most importantly of all, her new image has also done her music a lot of good and she certainly blows up a storm.
The rest of the band is more subdued and includes Regardt de Bruin on guitar (with some great but fleeting solos), Mark Freel on bass, Arno van der Westhuizen on keyboards and flute with PW van der Walt on drums.
Even though ‘ROCK ON! Beethoven’ is more about partying than it is about putting on a perfect show, there are a few shortcomings.
I would have liked to have heard and seen a lot more of Roelof’s musical magic and flambouyant antics than laughed at his “yahs”. In fact, much of his contribution to the show from the piano was lost in the rock numbers. The baby grand was too far back on the stage.
However, the biggest no-no of all had to be the Michael Jackson medley which comprised ‘Thriller’, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘We Are The World’ and ‘Hold The Line’. The audience cheered and clapped along and probably didn’t even notice that Percy Smith actually left out words and couldn’t make the high notes even though all numbers were played in a lower key. Admittedly the costumes and his moves were a lot closer to the real thing. But the question remains - why, oh why, do locals even try to do Michael Jackson? He wasn’t the King Of Pop for nothing .
‘ROC K ON! Beethoven’ is directed and scripted by Duck Chowles and Ian von Memerty. In all, this sequel is probably too much of a good thing. ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ and ‘Rock Me Amadeus’ were better shows and they should have probably left it there.
However, the real issue is that ‘ROCK ON! Beethoven’ lives up to all it claims to be and more. The few flaws hardly matter as the show provides the perfect supper theatre party. |
