Stage: Get Back – Rhumbelow Theatre
Final performance at Durban North’s Northlands Bowling Club at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 19
REVIEW BY BILLY SUTER
THAT this lively and loving tribute to hits of The Beatles is certain to prove one of the most popular shows to date by Durban tribute band, The Reals, seems to go without saying. Certainly so, if judging by the great turnout and fantastic audience response at the two performances held this past weekend at the Rhumbelow’s Umbilo theatre.
Consequently, quick booking for Get Back’s final performance is strongly advised. It’s at the Rhumbelow venue at Durban North’s Northlands Bowling Club, at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 19.
For the group’s latest tribute show, The Reals have again roped in reliable singer-guitarist Shaun Dragt, a regular guest, to boost the regular line-up of lead singer and lead guitarist Barry Thomson, singer-keyboardist and musical director Dawn Selby, singer-drummer Mali Sewell and bassist Andy Turrell.
Together they blend beautifully, as usual, and the team’s enthusiasm for, and delivery of, the classic Beatles repertoire soon rubs off on the audience.
We get a few interesting facts – for instance, that The Beatles, with its vast repertoire, existed for only seven years – but for the most part the classic music does all the talking necessary. We also get occasional video footage of The Beatles members being goofy during interviews, on video screens flanking the Umbilo Rhumbelow stage.
Get Back opens with most in the band arriving on stage in white shirts and black ties to highlight Barry and Shaun sharing vocals on Love Me Do, followed by Shaun and Dawn leading From Me to You, after which Mali and Dawn perform All My Loving.
The hits keep pouring out thereafter, the first half including A Hard Day’s Night, Ticket to Ride, Can’t Buy Me Love, She Loves You, Help! Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds and the rocking Revolution. Two ballads sung by Barry are among highlights here – Yesterday (with Dawn’s keyboards as the only backing) and, the last song before interval, the wonderful Let It Be.
The second half opens with a bang, with Barry and Dawn taking the spotlight for Golden Slumbers, Penny Lane and Day Tripper before Barry impresses, both vocally and in an excellent guitar solo, with While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Also in this half are Lady Madonna, Hello Goodbye (a Dawn solo), We Can Work It Out, Come Together and I Saw Her Standing There, among other golden greats.
Beatles fans will lap up this energetic tribute to one of the best bands ever, done very well indeed by a local group at the top of its game. Applause, too, for Andre Norden’s ace sound control and Barry Meehan’s lighting.
Other good news is that The Beatles had so many hits, as well as chart-toppers from members’ solo careers, that Get Back Again, a sequel show, is already being planned for coming months. There are also whispers of a third chapter in the works, so watch this space!
Tickets for Get Back cost R200 each. Book at Webtickets or email roland@stansell.co.za
.....SoSuterBill..... 