LAMTA, if you can believe it, has whipped up another winner. Of course you can believe it, if you’ve been to any previous productions. Because you already know that the students of the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy are nothing short of phenomenal, nurtured and nourished by their principals – Anton (the L) and Duane (the A) who have every reason to look as proud as can be when the final curtain comes down. The future of theatre is right here, right now.
Hollywood pays tribute to the singing and dancing in Movieland – or La La Land if you prefer, for that is the opening number but it’s not just grabbing well-known songs from the big screen à la tribute show (although that is part of it), but oftentimes representation of a movie, with wide-ranging creativity. Like the Madonna song Vogue, which featured in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada as a nod to Miranda Priestly’s inspiration, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, with a more of a nod to the singer’s official music video.
And yes, the students were required to watch a lot of old movies as homework and research. They weren’t even born when Risky Business came out (1983! Were their parents?) with its iconic scene in which Tom Cruise dances in his socks to Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock ‘n Roll. Fun fact: many people think they recall Cruise wearing sunglasses in this scene but he does not. Go on, look it up, I’ll wait. It’s called the Mandela Effect, you can look that up too. Anyway, this is given such a brilliantly fun treatment that will slap a smile on your face – much like many of the numbers – The Triplets of Belleville, for example, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. These will make you immediately want to rewatch the movies.
Then there are the jaw-droppingly beautiful dance sequences. The Score, for example, has the potential to take your breath away. And whose clever idea was it to costume Jayden Dickson in black and white vertical-striped pants to elongate and accentuate his shape and height? Superb. He shines like a supernova in the finale too, except thankfully he doesn’t explode into extinction because we still need him on the stage. Incidentally, that finale is titled Starstruck in the programme; the song is AC/DC’s Thunderstruck. Just to give you an idea of the thought processes going on here.
There’s the obligatory romance of My Heart Will Go On, just one of several occasions when Dylan Janse van Rensburg (who was so good in Spring Awakening lest we forget the dancing is but one of the triple threats for which LAMTA students are trained) will have you gasping at his elegant, seemingly effortless strength.
As previously published, Hollywood features a spectacular array of works choreographed by some of South Africa’s leading names including LAMTA graduates Anna Olivier and Naoline Quinzin, the duo behind the sensational Spring Awakening choreography; alongside Jared Schaedler, Duane Alexander, Brigitte Reeve Taylor, Michelle Reid, Sven Eric Muller, Zoë Aldridge, Ashley Searle, Robin van Wyk, Chesney Stanfield and Emile Petersen. Each one brings their unique style and flair to the production, promising a show brimming with variety, creativity and flair.
Each segment of the show celebrates different styles and elements of Hollywood, from the sinister horror movies of Alfred Hitchcock (enjoy these quotes from when Anthony Hopkins played him in 2012) to noir and the Golden Age (1927 to 1960). Such as Cheek To Cheek: a song written by Irving Berlin in 1934–35, specifically for the star of his new musical, Fred Astaire. The movie was Top Hat, co-starring Ginger Rogers. In the movie, Astaire sings the song to Rogers as they dance. “…Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels,” said Ann Richards, 45th governor of Texas. And so beautifully too.
The show reaches into the future as well, with a number inspired by Joker 2, still to be released (October this year).
A screen occupying the entire back of the stage is used for montages and memories, and in case we forget Hollywood has its dark side too, an insert on that despicable person whose name I will not use, because ugh, and the women who stood up and spoke out. I’m sure you know who I mean. Not to get bogged down in outrage now, there are two cool sort of interactive parts in which you’re given 15 seconds to guess the movie from the score and shout out the answers. It’s not as easy as you think, and no it’s not Star Wars. Some titles are rather obscure and I had to have words with Anton afterwards. There’s also an homage to those no longer with us.
Tickets cost R150 to R250 through Webtickets or book at the box office on 021 438 3300. The show is suitable for all ages. Performances run Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm with a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday. Oh, did I mention you have to make haste? Hollywood runs until June 29 so chop-chop, tick-tock and all that. For learners and dance studios wanting to secure group discounts, contact Ingrid on 066 564 1816.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ingrid Owen
