The Crazy 80's

Crazy_80s_poster_web24 March - 4 April 2010
Music Tribute

Port Elizabeth-based production company, Centrestage, returns with their powerhouse band to showcase this hit eighties show. The Centrestage All-Star Band will be joined by comedian Mark Banks to take a light-hearted look back at the decade which spawned lycra, bad taste, outrageous fashion, the mullet hairstyle and neo stuff..

Says the show’s producer, Gary Hemmings: “Mark Banks will use ‘the gift of hind-sight’ along with his acerbic and irreverent wit to look back and remind us about this schizophrenic decade, which in many respects was a time that the fashion police clearly forgot.. The 80’s was the era which provided the now nostalgic sound track to the misspent youth of the middle-aged of today – and Banks reminds us of the bitter-sweet embarrassment and inexplicable folly that went along with it all.”

“Musically, stadium rock, new wave, electronic and pop metal were blended and commercial, catchy hooks and increased pop aesthetic was embraced. This was the age which launched a new level of lighters aloft, with the marriage of guitar and keyboards creating an absolutely distinctive sound for the time.”

Against this backdrop, The 12 piece Centrestage All-Star band will be joined by a brass section and three keyboards to again recreate the huge 80’s sound with the same kind of authenticity and sheer energetic entertainment which was so apparent in their previous Magnificent 7 outings.

The show is jam-packed with hits by the likes of Duran Duran, The Eurhythmics,  AHA, Talking Heads, Wham!, Dexys Midnight Runners, Bananarama, Talking Heads, Reo Speedwagon, Foreigner and Yazoo.

The energetic Wayne Kallis performs as John Cougar Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen, Donna Africa takes the stage as Tina Turner and Madonna, while Lani Botha pays tribute to Blondie and Cindy Lauper. The electric Melvyn Matthews, last seen in Durban tearing up the stage as Bob Marley in The Magnificent 7 2, takes on the role of Michael Jackson, while musical director Donovan Hattingh is Huey Lewis.

The Crazy 80’s Centrestage offers a whirlwind of the best music and comedy combined, from a company which has proved its pedigree and thrives on entertaining its audiences to the hilt.