Stage: Retro-Fest – Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban
(Until November 17)
REVIEW BY BILLY SUTER
LAUGHTER from lunacy and recurring kooky characters has long been the trademark of Durban theatre stalwarts Aaron McIlroy and his wife Lisa Bobbert, who in recent years have been treading new water with interesting collaborations and additions to their collection of staple stage characters.
Now, after having worked in recent shows with their children and the Durban City Orchestra, Aaron and Lisa have united with one of the city’s most popular music-making duos – the energetic Veranda Panda, comprising violinist-singer Jane Magner and her electronic dance music mix-master husband, Liam Magner.
The result is Retro-Fest, a colourful hodgepodge of a show with some surprises, some truly whacko retro costuming and much to enjoy. Sadly, however, it has a big flaw: curiously low sound levels. Please, guys, in the words of ’80s band MARRS … pump up the volume!
The show’s first half, on opening night, sometimes felt lacklustre, so great was the need for volume. This is, afterall, a nod to festival festivity, with a music mixer console being used centre stage! By the second half – the content of which is much better – the sound levels had improved, if not quite enough, so one hopes the volume will be boosted to better partying-mode for the rest of the show’s run.
Other than this disappointment, and the show sometimes in need of punchier direction, Retro-Fest probably has everything you’d want in remixing, reminiscing and ridiculousness from MacBob and Veranda Panda. Episodic in its unfurling, the show has the Magners cranking out remixes of classic old songs while Aaron and Lisa chat and sing in a changing parade of wigs, costumes, characters and accents.
First up is ubiquitous whiner, Charmaine, and her dimwit husband, Bruce, who take to the stage to reflect on ’70s and ’80s festival vibes after the show opens with the cast performing the Buggles hit, Video Killed the Radio Star.
Highlights thereafter include Aaron in fright wig and even more frightening, tight shorts, performing Dead Or Alive’s You Spin Me Round; and Lisa with a good new character – a no-longer-young, diehard festival fan who recalls liaisons with Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger. She performs Bangles’ Walk Like an Egyptian while sipping from an extra-long straw in a wine bottle, and pushing a trolley with mini discoballs and a load of festival bits and bobs.
I also enjoyed Aaron’s long-haired, guitar-carrying festival stalwart who can’t recall the whereabouts of a specific boulder that holds special significance for him. Also a good laugh is Lisa and Aaron as sombrero-wearing Mexican men who took a wrong turn to end up at the retro-fest and perform a thumping medley of Boney M classics.
The superior second half includes one of the most hilarious costumes ever worn by Aaron – a dinosaur-riding Aussie who gets into Bee Gees disco mode. Also here is Aaron playing Indian dude VJ as Freddie Mercury – although he does overstay his welcome a little – before a lively finale, complete with discoball balloons thrown into the audience, which salutes the songs of Abba.
Play That Funky Music, Babooshka, Somebody to Love, Venus, Only You, Tainted Love, Bohemian Rhapsody and Hotel California (a song started by Aaron and ended with Jane on vocals) are among other hits sandwiched into this party platter.
Note that dressing up, festival style, is not essential but there are prizes for the best dressed and a concession stand is in the foyer to buy festival souvenirs. Booking is via Webtickets.
.....SoSuterBill..... 