Duck Chowles
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Fresh Monanyane
CAST: Tiaan Rautenbach, Percy Smith and Gavin Esterhuizen, Tshepi Mash, Peyton Claasens, Calli Thomson, Regardt de Bruin, Fresh Monanyane, Ruan Oosthuyzen and Denzil Erasmus
VENUE: The Barnyard Theatre, Gateway
RATING: ****
THROW in a bit of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Elvis Presley and Bob Marley and you’ve got one awesome show that will keep you entertained from beginning to end.
If this sounds appealing, then be sure to catch the Barnyard’s latest offering, Forever Young, which runs until March 9.
The production takes audiences on a journey of the music of the late, great legends of our time.
It features Tiaan Rautenbach, Percy Smith and Gavin Esterhuizen (male vocals), Tshepi Mash, Peyton Claasens (female vocals), Calli Thomson (keyboards and backing vocals), Regardt de Bruin (guitar), Fresh Monanyane (bass guitar), Ruan Oosthuyzen (drums) and Denzil Erasmus on saxophone.
Expect songs like New York, New York, Wonderful World, Pretty Woman and Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, plus Amy Winehouse’s Rehab, Whitney Houston’s Run To You and John Lennon’s Imagine.
The cast work well together to bring you a show that has a bit of something for everyone.
Male vocalist, Smith, never disappoints. He is charismatic and a natural on stage, and the audience can’t get enough of him. His performances of It’s A Man’s World and I Feel Good particularly stand out. He has amazing audience synergy, interacting with the crowd through his witty humour.
If Smith is in a production, it’s bound to be a hit.
Rautenbach and Esterhuizen are equally as talented and do a fine job impersonating the King of Rock n Roll, Presley, and rocker Ozzy Osbourne. Throughout the show, Rautenbach serves as the host dressed in full Osbourne attire. And the crowd love it.
Then, there’s the bubbly female vocalist, Mash, who knows how to wow the audience with her powerful vocals. Her rendition of the late Houston’s Run To You and Nothing, which she incorporated in one act, was moving. Kudos to her on a job well done.
And let’s not forget saxophonist Erasmus who blew everyone away with his impressive talent. It takes a true professional to pull off what he did and he did it with complete ease.
Big ups to him for bringing down the house with a roar of applause.
In fact, the entire cast comple-ment each other and have great synergy on stage.
The costumes were spot on with the performers imitating Houston, Jackson, Osbourne and the rest remarkably.
From the lighting to the set design and sound, the production is enjoyable for the entire family.
• Forever Young runs until March 9. R145 Wednesday to Saturday, R110 Tuesday night and R100 Sunday matinee. For bookings and enquiries: 031 566 3045 or visit www.barnyardtheatres.co.za/ gateway