Let the good times roll
Reviewed at Grand Central (The GC) - Dom Polski Centre on 1 March 2019
Presented by SMA Productions and Boys in the Band
Opening with the Four Seasons classic Oh What a Night, the Boys in the Band let the audience know what they were in for! After several of this groups hits, all with the signature moves and high pitch voice we know so well, the group went on to a Beatles medley and the audience was with them every step of the way. She Was Just Seventeen, Love Me Do and others made way for Chuck Berry’s Rock and Roll Music, Johnny B Goode and on to Bobby Darin (Dream Lover), Paul Anka (Put Your Hand on My Shoulder), Little Richard (Tutti Fruity), in fact a tour of many of the great artists from the 50s and 60s.
These four young men are very versatile. Keane Fletcher, Justine Ryne, Damon Wade and Hugh Barrington cover all the stars, Elvis to the Righteous Brothers, beautiful versions of Unchained Melody, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Blue Suede Shoes, even A Little Less Conversation. All of this is with the SMA band called The Players, with a great guitar solo by Kristian Pipitone in the Chuck Berry number. Their manager, David Malek, has a keen eye for talent
The next segment brought them home to Australia; Burn for You, Don’t Dream It’s Over, The Horses, Working Class Man and of course they couldn’t miss It’s a Long Way to The Top. The boys then covered the Australian anthem You’re the Voice finishing the first act with Johnny O’Keefe’s Shout.
The second act brought a change of suits, from the classy burgundy of the first act to stylish silver grey, always smart. The music became more recent, well a bit, Shake a Tail Feather, Gimme Some Lovin’, Reach Out and I Want You Back, and Blame It on the Boogie, (yes another group, The Jacksons).
Just to prove they do harmonies well they gave us some Simon and Garfunkel, Sound of Silence was especially good. A quick tribute to the Bee Gees with Stayin’ Alive and You Should be Dancing and a little Queen to round out the night, We Will Rock You, Somebody to Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions.
For the Encore they brought back the Beatles with Imagine and Let It Be. They ended as they had begun with Oh What a Night; could not have said it better. A great night of entertainment!
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds
Venue: Grand Central Showroom
Season: 1 – 2 Mar 2019
Duration: 110 min
Tickets: $29 -$35
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