RHUMBELOW THEATRE
Cunningham Ave Off Bartle Rd
PRESENTS
Red Hot & Blue..
Karen Van Pletsen
Musical Direction: Evan Roberts
FRIDAY 07 MAY 2004 Show starts 20.00
SATURDAY 08 MAY 2004 Show starts 20.00
SUNDAY 09 MAY 2004 Show starts 18.30
(Venue opens 90 minutes before show for
picnic dinner)
A
sassy, sentimental solo cabaret that explores the melancholy, risqué and simply
beautiful Blues. It pays homage to artists such as Nina Simone, Billie
Holiday, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and
Janis Joplin.Karen van Pletsen has been described as “a great singer, too
effervescent to be merely consummate. Her body language was born to belt out
torch songs in smoky. Divey bars. Which might sound like an insult, but she’ll
know that it’s a compliment.”
– Peter Machen, Independent on Saturday
Karen
Van Pletsen
Karen
Ann Van Pletsen is one of South Africa’s best-loved stage and recording stars.
An established audience favourite particularly in the country’s Eastern
Seaboard region, she has appeared in Durban in several major musical
productions, including Fiddler on the Roof (as Hodel), Annie (as Grace Farrel),
Elton (Female Lead), Concert Fever (Female Lead), Yesterday (female lead), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat
(Narrator) and the critically-acclaimed showcase production, Lady Sings the
Blues (which she co-devised and starred in with a five-man virtuoso backing
line-up led by ace muso Evan Roberts). Other significant Van Pletsen engagements
have included her commissioned work for the Women’s Arts Festival in Durban,
several guest appearances with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra in its popular
Sunset Proms and Music at the Lake series, numerous corporate performances, and
a number of guest appearances with Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company. A
popular figure on Durban’s jazz circuit and a busy recording artist, Karen
spent a number of seasons as a contract cabaret artist in Dubai. Whilst there,
she, along with her band The Dubai Jazz Quartet, was invited to sing at the
inaugural Katmandu Jazz Festival. She returned to Durban in 2003 to take the
star role of Bathsheba Everdene in the world premiere staging of Far From the
Madding Crowd – The Musical at The Playhouse. Van Pletsen’s electic command of
repertoire and her strongly distinctive vocal personality put their
recognizable stamp on her encounters with musical theatre, jazz and
contemporary genres. As noted for her extensive vocal range and versatility as
for her potent audience impact, this versatile repertoire artist is also a
classically trained pianist and has composed several memorable compositions for
her own performances, among them the touching Gecko Moon (soon be released on
her forthcoming CD, Old, New Borrow’d & Blue).
Press
Quotes:
“Van
Pletsen is a great singer, too effervescent to be merely consummate. Her body
language was born to belt out torch songs in smoky, divey bars. Which might
sound like an insult, but she’ll know that it’s a compliment.”
-
Peter Machen, The Independent on Saturday.
“Her
voice is richly textured, whether she’s playing the piano and singing or just
strutting her stuff… With plenty of musicals and stage experience behind her,
she is clearly a talent who deserves a bigger audience and platform.”
-
Michael Tarr, The Daily News.
-
“She
has a marvelous talent and is well on her way to being a considerable star.”
-
Humphrey Tyler, The Sunday Tribune.
R 50-00 a ticket
Bring food picnic baskets.
(Braais will be available should you wish to cook
some meat)
Limited secure parking available Booking is essential.
Bar Available
(no alcohol may be brought on to the premises)
Phone or
email Roland for bookings and get that money rolling in.
H 2057602 Cell 0824998636 email roland@stansell.za.net