Soul Train, get on board and believe it! » Civic Chat December 2014

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F_R_CIVICThink “Soul Music”, passion, energy, mood, Ray Charles and many others; all this performed at the Civic Theatre.

This kind of singing must only be done by good singers: – and they are, really good. Their whole presentation: – voice, movements, gestures and expression – are just right and convincing, plus a certain something else. They understand “Soul”. We heard songs not heard for – too long; Unchain my Heart, Ain’t no Mountain High Enough and I Have Nothing, so well sung, all class, real style, and they were just three that I remember well. 

Director Huia Veale assembled a first class cast of performers for this. Some familiar faces were there as well as others not seen before by this writer, all local to this coast, and they do it for love. They were good, all of them; to select particular people wouldn’t be fair.

 It was in a cabaret setting which it needs to be. It allows for a subtle bond between the artists on the stage, and coming among us at times, and their audience – the entertainers and entertained. For many in the house the show recaptures a time when the music was good, lyrics made sense and there was something called “charm.” The whole is something to be taken home and enjoyed for a long time.

Kapiti Coast, and indeed Wellington, are well served by this theatre on its edge; and Otaki Players with its vision.

By Selwyn Boorman