Popular musical legends return
ONE of Centrestage's most popular shows ever, Staying Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees, has been revived after having filled venues to capacity in the city some seven years ago.
Headed up by the trademark falsetto of Andre Strydom as Barry Gibb and fronted by a new-look band, the rest of the Australian trio of bothers will be represented by Roger Gilson as Robin and Aston Wylie as Maurice.
The show, to be held at the Boardwalk Amphitheatre from Tuesday to next Saturday, will take audiences back to the '70s with a classic songbook, still popular four decades on.
Among the best-selling music artists of all time, The Bee Gees achieved legendary success as a rock act in the late '60s and early '70s and then became the poster act for the disco generation.
Renowned for their three-part tight harmonies, Robin's clear vibrato lead vocals were a hallmark of their earlier hits, while Barry's R&B falsetto became their signature sound in the late '70s and '80s.
The nine-piece Centrestage band features some of the Bay's best musical talent. Ace keyboard players Fenlin Pietie and Deborah Everhard are backed by Kevin Mattheus on drums and Andrew Warneke on bass, with Wayne Kallis on acoustic guitar.
Caron Strydom guests on mega-hit duets like Islands in the Stream, Guilty and the haunting Immortality, with the Strydom/Gilson/Wylie vocal harmonies augmented by the fact that all but one of the group joins in on backing harmonies, creating a "lush and textured live vocal replication of sounds often confined to the studio", according to Centrestage's Gary Hemmings.
Evergreen hits like Massachusetts, To Love Somebody, How Deep is Your Love, Too Much Heaven, You Win Again and Staying Alive are among many much-loved tunes to be performed.
The run also includes several fundraisers by organisations using the first three nights to generate revenue for good causes. To support any of these organisations, tickets may be booked directly with them as follows:
Tuesday:
Grey Junior School Grade 7 fundraiser – contact Belinda Rushmere on 083-601-6131, or Nici Lovemore 082-057-5058.
Alexander Road High Class of '74 reunion – Ethel on 083-728-9972.
St Mary's Cathedral Restoration Fund – Margie on 073-592-2655.
EP Squash – Alan on 082-417-0712.
Wednesday:
Grey High School – Pieter Rademeyer, (041) 374-3300.
Dink en Doen Kleuterskool, Patensie – Jeanita on 082-478-0193.
Thursday:
Newton Technical High School – Elna van Eeden on (041)365-1288.
Olke Bolke Nasorg – Jana on 083-459-9965.
James Huntly representing Mance Karate Club – Rebecca on 071-370-4374
Saturday:
Help Heal Ashleigh – Colleen on 082-570-3183.
The show heads to East London's The Venue at Hemingways from April 24-26.
Tickets for both Port Elizabeth and East London performances may be bought through Computicket, or by calling Wendy on 082-661-6921. - Arts Correspondent
