STAGE: Sinbad the Sailor – Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban
(Performances until January 11)
REVIEW BY BILLY SUTER
KICKSTART theatre company’s latest panto, last revived in Durban in 2017, arrives as an explosion of colour and fun highlighting an energetic and very talented cast on sparkling form. It also has some welcome new faces among the company’s much-loved family of regulars.
It’s the ship-shape, bright, breezy and buoyant Sinbad the Sailor, which now has an updated script that pokes fun at everything from Transnet and city councillors, to cooling US-SA relations – and takes playful jabs at everyone from Justin Bieber, Puff Daddy, Johnny Depp and Beyonce, to Chad le Clos, Jan van Rieebeck, Helen Zille and Patricia de Lille.
It happens to also be a show with a shipload of some of the very best slapstick comedy to be found in a panto, making it a glittering star that tops all Durban’s festive season attractions.
The show has a long-haired Rory Booth delighting in the title role and the 2017 production’s lead, Lyle Buxton, impressing now as teeth-clenching, world-weary villain, Long John Slither, a role previously played by Darren King.
A twisting tale centred on sailor Sinbad and a multitude of silly sidekicks making waves on a high seas adventure to find a magical black pearl, the show unfurls on a gloriously kaleidoscopic and detailed set by Greg King.
It’s under the fun, high-spirited direction of Steven Stead, who also provided the script, and he bobs the tale along with well-chosen, assorted pop songs, show tunes, some rap and nods to Bollywood. And, of course, novelty numbers including the customary singalong (with lyrics on a large drop-cloth) and an hilarious line song that still remains KickstArt’s finest.
Sure, there are plot-holes as huge as the vessel depicted on stage at one point, and the first half of the production is rather long, but it all sails along so slickly, with much merriment and some delicious surprises that include a colossal winged creature, gigantic snakes, a massive worm, a mischievous gorilla and a shy camel with a cute curtsey.
Back again as sinister and scheming sultana Morgiana the Magnificent is a sassy Belinda Henwood, while also returning – and one of the clear standouts – is Bryan Hiles as Sinbad’s batty mom, dame Donna Kebab.
A great new addition to the KickstArt family is a young man with a bright future. He is Kyran Taylor – who played the lead in the Young Performers’ Project production of Joseph, at Durban’s Playhouse – and is cast here as Sinbad’s dimwit, elastic-limbed younger brother, Silly Billy.
Others on board for fun are Long John Slither’s comical sidekick Mustapha KitKat (a loose-limbed and very funny Mthokozisi Zulu), Slither’s daughter Marina (a dainty and sweet-voiced Roshanda Lewis) and her mentoring sidekick Ameena Labeeba (an amusing Marion Loudon).
Also tossed into the madcap mix is the Genie of the Seven Seas (played by Blessing Xaba who, according to Donna Kebab, resembles “a giant Smurf”); and four versatile and well-synchronised dancers that include Grace McIlroy, Sarah Tyrrell, Tshadiso Kabulu and Priyren Naidoo, deftly choreographed by Evashnee Pillay.
As usual, costumes are a major embellishment of the panto (take a bow, costumiere Shanti Naidoo!) as is the inventive lighting by Tina le Roux. Sinbad the Sailor also features sound design by Colin Peddie and vocal arrangements by Evan Roberts.
The show runs until January 11. Performances are at 2.30pm every Tuesday to Sunday, but at 11am and 3.30pm on Saturdays. No children under the age of three are permitted. Booking is at Webtickets.
.....SoSuterBill..... 