IF you were a huge fan of the The Carpenters, then you have the opportunity to relive some of their greatest hits through the Rhumbelow’s production, A Song for You: A Carpenter’s Revival. Running from Friday to Sunday, the show stars Belinda Dolphin and Karen Campbell-Gillies and is a nostalgic look at the most-loved songs by the Carpenters, whose music spanned from 1969 through to Karen Carpenter’s tragic death in 1983.
Explaining what appealed to her the most about the music of the Carpenters, Dolphin says: “It’s everyone’s go-to, feel-good music and Karen and I love it! Our voices are particularly well-suited to the songs sung by Karen Carpenter and we love singing the beautiful melodies and harmonies that evoke wonderful memories for us all. And The Carpenters recorded 15 albums together until Karen’s death from anorexia nervosa in 1983. We chose one or two of our personal favourites and then looked for songs that were most popular in their day. It was also important to balance the upbeat with the slow-tempo numbers.”
On working with Campbell-Gillies, Dolphin says they are good friends and have fun working together. “We chat a lot in rehearsals and enjoy our music tremendously. We have worked together a few times and get along very well professionally.”
As for the storyline, she says it is centered around the Carpenters’ lives and songs as well as Karen’s untimely death: “We have some slideshows that will remind the audience of this brother/sister duo projected alongside the stage, while we sing live to backing tracks.”
“The best part about this production is singing together in the beautiful harmony written by the Carpenters. And some challenges were the time constraints we face because we both work full-time. Karen is a high-school English teacher by day, and I’m a vocalist and entertainer in the evenings. Our schedules make it very difficult to get together,” she adds.
According to Dolphin, she hopes those who attend will be able to tap their toes to some all-time favourites that will transport audiences back in time to a mellow, happy place: “We hope to perform this show to sold-out houses and look forward to spending time doing what we both love.”
l Catch A Song for You: A Carpenter’s Revival at the Rhumbelow Theatre in uMbilo from Friday until Sunday. Tickets are R120 and pensioners pay R100. Book at Computicket or e-mail Roland on [email protected]