FULL PAGE, FRONT PAGE, JUDY PAGE IN PAGE BY PAGE!

When the members of the Johannesburg Press Club goes out for a social event they can be very picky. And for their first evening out for 2011, Joburg’s media elite chose Judy Page’s celebration of her more than 50 years in the business in a show, PAGE BY PAGE running at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square at Sandton Square until 9th April. Even before the spot lights up Judy Page - dressed in a stark David Hutt 1930’s highly tailored man’s suit with an exquisite solitaire brooch - the first notes played by the talented young pianist Clinton Zerf on the shiny black grand piano, already set the stage for an unforgettable night of pure talent and entertainment. The technique, style and professionalism that have placed Judy Page centre stage for more than 5 decades now, still is all there, held together by the most extraordinary talents this country has ever had the pleasure to enjoy. And, nobody, but nobody handles a mike the way in which Judy manipulates that piece of evil electronic equipment! What an artiste does with a mike is always a good indication of the extent of their knowledge of stage craft – and, what Judy does with that mike is nobody’s business! I have only seen one other live performer in this country who could control a mike in such a mistressly way (and, she knew how to skip over a mike lead also) and that was the wonderful Sophia Foster. But, not even Sophia at her best could ever beat The Page at making the mike work so superbly for her! The show is really a musical tapestry of Judy Page’s legendary life. In a lighthearted way she allows us to peak into her career as an interpreter of songs, a chanteuse and, as the star of many of the grand musicals that graced our stages over many years. She chats to the audience about her life, her three husbands, her children and grandchildren – and, she shares anecdotes about her leading men, the impresarios she has worked with and suffered for; all the highlights, spotlights and lowlights are remembered and even though she makes the audience laugh, there are no barbs and no venom, just empathy, gratitude and a great deal of praise for everyone including her audiences. And, she intersperses this really easy narrative style with really difficult songs that spans her long career from her first audition at the Royal Hotel in Bulawayo (a show-topping rendition of Summertime which she admits she didn’t quite sing like now during that first audition!), her prolific career in South Africa as a band vocalist during the 1960’s and her later shining in cabaret and, as a very successful recording artist. Jerry Herman, George Gershwin, Burt Bacharch, Bob Dylan, Jacques Brel - the list goes on and on and then, after a stunningly big rendition of “The Parade Passes Buy” the lights suddenly cut and it is interval. The lady has just given the audience more than an hour of the finest entertainment – something not even the great Dietrich could do at this age! The second half starts and the spot lights up a Judy Page dressed in a long black dress with a beaded Merlin’s overcoat in sparkling black and silver. And, in this second half of the show, our star sparkles even more than the superb outfit she wears! A great surprise comes when Judy lights candles in remembrance of the those great South African stage performers that have passed on and pianist Clinton Zerf then accompanies his own superb singing of Michael Jackson’s “Gone too soon”. This is a really marvelous high tenor voice with beautiful undertones. Judy then sweeps up the sadness and raises the mood with a wonderfully raunchy “Good to Mama” from Chicago. Later she and Clinton get an opportunity to sing together in the very “unromantic” romantic duet “Do you Love me” from Fiddler on the Roof. The penultimate moment is a rousing Judy-ised interpretation of Sondheim’s “I am Still Here” followed, in impeccable Page Style, by the star thanking her audience for that which they had made her up to now by singing the hauntingly beautiful “In a Very Unusual Way” from the musical Nine. The lights dip, and every audience since opening night jumps to their feet while Judy and Clinton take their elegant bows and, very regally, leave the stage. It is then that you look at your watch and realize that The Page was on her feet for more than two hours and no fatigue showing at all! They simply don’t make troopers like her anymore! PAGE BY PAGE is a joyous celebration of unforgettable songs and hilarious anecdotes – if you miss this show you have missed one of the best offerings of its kind available to South African audiences for a long time now. It is a privileged opportunity to see one of South Africa's greatest greats - without any doubt the leading musical theatre personality of the day and doyenne of the musical stage - giving her all in re-telling her adventures coupled to some of the greatest songs from her enormous repertoire. Just a little note to young Clinton Zerf with the No 12 feet: Those shoes. honey, those shoes! Better you donate them to the Lesbian Benevolent Fund at the first possible opportunity. And, it could add to the show if the young Clinton comes dressed in a tuxedo – it is, after all, one of “those” classier shows in town! And, a note to our younger stage performers: You will be well-advised to get your bums over to Judy’s and take a few master classes. What this lady has forgotten most of you have yet to learn! Performances of PAGE BY PAGE take place Tuesday – Friday at 20:15 and Saturdays at 18:00 until 9 April 2011. Tickets are R120 per person and R80 for students and seniors. Bookings can be made by calling the theatre’s box office on tel. 011-883-8606 or 083-377-4969 or online: www.strictlytickets.com There are no booking fees or service charges to patrons! Brief additional synopsis of Judy Page’s career: In 1976 she was cast as the Countess Elsa in The Sound of Music for which she received the first of 5 Dalro nominations. She went on to perform in many musical compilations: Brel, Piaf, Jerome Kern, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Judy Garland and Jerry’s Girls for which she won the Dalro Award for Best Performance in a musical. She has tackled a series of greatly acclaimed major leads: Roxie Hart in Geoffrey Sutherland’s Chicago (1977) and Mama Morton (2002), Anna in Louis Burke’s production of The King and I, Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly and Mame Dennis Burnside in Mame. Judy has reached wider audiences on television, appearing in her own series Hey Jude, many musical programmes and even a soap opera – Westgate. Recent musicals include Deon Opperman’s My Fair Lady (Mrs Higgins) for which she won a Naledi Award for Best Supporting Actress and Fiddler on the Roof (Golde). In 2008, Judy played Jeanette, the eccentric piano player, in The Full Monty, for which she won the Naledi Award for Best Comedy Performance and as one of the vultures in Deon Opperman’s Jock Of The Bushveld. Most recently, she appeared in the pantomime, Robinson Crusoe.