VALENTINE’S SOIREE – A LIFETIME OF LOVE. Producer: Faeron Wheeler. Director: Christine Kaye. Musical Directors: Linley Meavers, Claire Thomson. Set Designer: Christine Kaye. Lighting Designers: Christine Kaye, Gary Fargher. SHEILA CHISHOLM sang along with Claire Thomson, Linley Meavers, Rufaro Mvududu, Matt Esbach, Timothy Wolfaardt, Kim Mortimer. At The Masque Theatre 14, 16 February, 2024.
Love is the emotion generally considered the most powerful of all. And because of its potent influence on lives, it has paved the way for centuries of authors and poets to write great works, from which great composers created great songs.
Valentine’s Soiree listed popular ones, from the classics to their contemporary repertoire. Sung to a packed (singing along) house on Wednesday evening, the soiree opened with Claire Thomson, Rufaro Mvududu, Kim Mortimer, Linley Meavers, Matt Esbach, and Timothy Wolfaardt, (singer, guitarist, pianist) singing Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance.
Valentine’s touches
Against a cyclamen hued cyclorama and raised platforms, the first-act-covered songs by Tom Jones (It’s Not Unusual); Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John and Kiki Dee); Eta James’ At Last — sung from the heart by Thomson. Including unexpected Valentine touches, the crew handed a long-stemmed rose to a few women. Then to expand the love theme they sang Seal’s Kiss from a Rose, closing the act with Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.
For this first act white outfits, splashed by pink accessories, added to the singer’s effervescence and appropriate dance moves. Without losing their sparkle, they changed into black attires, bringing a sense of elegance into the second act’s nine songs. But to my mind, missing was touches of Valentine’s time-honoured red.
Once again songs were sung in diverse numbers. Sometimes as solos. Sometimes as duets, trios or groups. While always holding the audience firmly in their hands, singers preceded songs either with a mini-personal biography or some point of interest in the song’s history.
Although from various backgrounds and training, the performers polish, interaction, musicality and harmonising is well worth more performances than just their present two.
The Masque is offering a couple’s ticket special – simply select two of the couples tickets and only pay R250. Individual tickets are R150. Book at Quicket.
What: Valentine’s Soiree – A Lifetime of Love
When: 14, 16 February, 2024
Where: The Masque Theatre Muizenberg Cape Town
WS
