City Roxmouth off to Broadway

SHOW: A LOVE LETTER TO GOLDEN AGE OF MUSICALS

- Hein Kaiser

Jonathan Roxmouth can tickle ivories like few musicians can – and he's back at the stage where it all began for him almost two decades ago at the Teatro stage at Montecasino.

This time he has a full orchestra at his command and a show designed to time-travel audiences into comfort and familiarity.

Roxmouth said that the show, called My Favourite Broadway, is more than just another concert.

He called it a love letter to the golden age of musicals.

“It’s the songs we all grew up with,” he said.

“The whole show is about nostalgia.

“Musical theatre tends to carry a lot of memories for people. They saw that show with their sweetheart, or their kid, or their grandfather took them to see it. It’s personal.”

But, he said, audiences must not expect just another trip down memory lane. He has upped the ante.

“It’s Broadway like they’ve never heard or seen it before,” he said, adding that with a full 32-piece Egoli Symphonic Orchestra on stage, it’s going to be a blast.

“Orchestral shows aren’t as common here as they should be,” he said. “To hear the music is one thing. To see it performed by 32 people right in front of you – that’s a completely different experience.”

The connection people have with Broadway music, Roxmouth said, goes far beyond catchy tunes.

“We all grew up having stories read to us. Musical theatre is just storytelling with music,” he said.

“Songs like Bring Him Home… who doesn’t have a child or a partner they wish they could see again? And Music of the Night for everyone who wanted to say ‘I love you’ but didn’t know how.

“These songs become our stories. It’s therapy, with amazing music.”