Close-harmony trio delights

**Clockwise from top are Marion Loudon, Tory du Plessis and Tammy Saville, whose new cabaret, Life in Harmony, has three performances at Durban’s Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo from October 13 to 15.**

Stage: Life in Harmony – Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo, Durban
Final performances at 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday (October 13 and 14) and 2pm on Sunday (October 15)
REVIEW BY BILLY SUTER

THERE are few more enjoyable vocal entertainments, in my book, than close-harmony singing done well. So it was with great anticipation that I took a drive to Hillcrest’s Camp Orchards at the weekend to preview Life in Harmony, a new showcase for the talents of Durban singers Marion Loudon, Tory du Plessis and Tammy Saville.

It was well worth the trip as this charming and attractive trio, accompanied with usual flair by the unobtrusive and seasoned Evan Roberts on keyboards, present a show that constantly delights. Good news is that it will be on stage this Friday to Sunday at Durban’s Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo, where it will have the embellishment of more stylish lighting.

The women, with low-fuss and effective direction from Steven Stead, have co-created Life in Harmony to highlight their versatility and honeyed vocal blending with a good mix of carefully chosen, beautifully arranged songs, both old and newer. These provide a hanger for casual commentaries on romance and love, the tunes reflecting on everything from dating to relationships, marriage and parenthood.

Dialogue and moments of simple choreography (slightly unsynchronised at times at the preview, but sure to have been tightened up by now) are kept to a minimum, the songs mostly doing the talking.

Opening with Queen’s Somebody to Love and Alicia Keys’s Some People/Fallin’, the team, dressed simply in black throughout the two-half programme, sashays through both upbeat, slow and more moving moments. The focus is always on understated elegance and utmost care in each arrangement.

You will find everything from Ed Sheeran and Lorde to the Bee Gees, Eagles, The Andrews Sisters and Dolly Parton in this show. In the first half, I particularly enjoyed Tory’s solo in the Carpenters’ version of The Beatles’ Ticket to Ride;’ Tammy taking the lead in Here Comes the Sun; the trio’s lovely rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams and their jolly swing version of the disco anthem I Will Survive.

The second half opens with Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Mr Sandman then launches into four goodies in a row – We’ve Only Just Begun, How Deep is Your Love, Eric Clapton’s Change the World and a highlight in Adele’s Easy on Me, which has Tory replacing Evan at the piano.

Before a swing variation of Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Tory and Marion impress with a standout, poignant delivery of Abba’s My Love, My Life, while the team also captivates with Eagles’ Seven Bridges Road and a cleverly arranged, slow version of Cher’s Believe.

Life in Harmony is a true treat, a wonderful way to temporarily escape the woes of the world.

Tickets for the upcoming Rhumbelow Theatre performances cost R200 each and can be booked at Computicket or by emailing Roland Stansell at roland@stansell.za.net (or call him at 082 499 8636).

The venue allows patrons to bring picnic baskets although light meals can be bought at the venue. Note that all beverages have to be bought at the theatre’s pub.