Nostalgic tale of Fitzgerald’s survival and triumph
CAT SINGS ELLA. Directed by, and co-starring Paul Spence, and performed by Cat Simoni. At the Rosebank Theatre, 16 Alma Road, Tuesday to Friday at 8.15pm, and Saturday at 3pm and 8.15pm.
STEYN DU TOIT reviews.
THE voice, wit and spirit behind one of showbiz’s greatest icons are explored in musical tribute show
Cat Sings Ella. Told through songs, impersonations and colourful bon mots, the result is an intimate evening filled with music and nostalgia.
Referred to as both the First Lady of Song and the Queen of Jazz, her life story truly is one of survival and triumph. From the wrong side of the tracks to standing on Carnegie Hall’s prestigious stage for one final, 26th time: there was but one Ella Fitzgerald.
Written and directed by Paul Spence, the viewer is taken on a two-act crash course covering various aspects of the legendary scat singer’s eventful life. And while it’s not necessary to be familiar with her biography or discography, due to the extensive nature of the information presented, a quick Wikipedia scan beforehand might be a good idea for Fitzgerald newbies.
Stepping into the glitzy gowns of Lady Ella is the buoyant Cat Simoni. True to the programme blurb’s promise, all she needs is a “stage and a Steinway to tell the astonishing life story of [Fitzgerald].” And what an astonishing life it turned out to be.
From the skid rows of Haarlem to running gambling tickets for the mob, to her first stage performance in 1934 at the Apollo Theatre’s amateur night; Fitzgerald’s rise to stardom is the main focus of the production’s first act. Never a dull moment, the period’s creativity and chutzpah is vividly captured by both director and star.
A unique combination of gifted singer, skilled pianist and downright likeable personality, Simoni captivates from the moment she appears in the Rosebank theatre’s small, velvet-draped performance space. Above all it is clear that she is in love with the music, and as a result the viewer becomes as well.
Stepping into various supporting roles – including American journalist Frank Rich and swing drummer and bandleader Chick Webb – while Spence’s presence isn’t strictly necessary in order for the show to take place, his charac- ters do add colour to the narrative, and help place Ella’s music and influences within a broader context.
Comprised of about 20 songs made famous by Fitzgerald, among the hits sung by Simoni as part of the production’s playlist are Cole Porter’s Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love, George Gershwin’s Summertime and Arthur Hamilton’s Cry Me a River.
As mentioned earlier there’s only a Steinway on stage, yet it is commendable to hear the various styles and eras she nonetheless manages to evoke with it. At times supplemented by recordings, among the genres brought to life are jazz, broadway, scat, big band, soul and swing.
It is Simoni’s voice, however, that is her most powerful weapon. Whether smooth, silky, sultry, raspy, deep, youthful or jazzy, there’s rarely a moment where she doesn’t convince with her talent and insight. When having fun, too, she gives it her all – including seductively walking up the stairs, donning quirky hats or holding hands with front row patrons.
My lips are sealed with regards to the second act, other than to say it focuses on Fitzgerald’s professional career, as well as the last few years of her life. Among the musi- cal highlights to look out for are Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s Mack the Knife, Cole Porter’s Ev’ry
Time We Say Goodbye and the Gershwins’s A Foggy Day.
Previously also exploring the music of Judy Garland, Burt Bacharach, Barbara Streisand, Jacques Brel and Francoise Hardy via a similar format, be sure to also catch Simoni and Spence at next month’s National Arts Festival (NAF). Apart from Cat Sings Ella, they will also be taking The Way We
Were – paying tribute to songwriters such as Gershwin, Kern, Porter and Sondheim – to Grahamstown.
Tickets: R140, 072 316 6133, or www.webtickets.co.za
Never a dull moment, the period’s creativity and chutzpah is vividly captured by both director Spence and star Simoni