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FAK Songs and other Struggle Anthems
Bambi Kellerman is the younger sister of Evita Bezuidenhout. The relationship between the two sisters is complex: they are sworn enemies and will not appear on the same stage - in fact will never be seen anywhere together. Evita is very much more famous than Bambi and I think that Bambi feels herself to be in Evita's shadow. Although Bambi is a very competent cabaret singer, and even though she had excellent backing from very good musicians in her Bokkie Band, and even though she covered a range of music from Kurt Weill and Stephen Sondheim to FAK boereliedjies, one had the sense that she was trying to compete with Evita. Bambi must give up trying to be like Evita. Only Evita can do what she does in the way that we have all come to know and love. Bambi must stick to being a cabaret artist.
Sings in three languages
Perhaps Bambi worries that her music will be too dark and, therefore, she tries to lighten things up with the story of her extraordinary history and political comment, a la Evita. But Bambi's music is sophisticated and clever. She sings in three languages: English, Afrikaans and German. The combination of FAK songs, twisted to up-to-date relevance, with Brecht and Weill numbers is remarkable. Bambi is also able to be delightfully crude (something that Evita would never do).
A lovely klopse beat
What's more, Bambi's Bokkie Band consists of excellent musicians. Godfrey Johnson played keyboards, as well as doing the arrangements and musical direction. He did this with style and originality and gave the musicians scope to show their talent. Heather Roth played sax and flute. Rayelle Goodman was beautifully expressive on violin, while Mac McKenzie gave a distinctive flavour, especially to the the boereliedjies with his guitar. Hilton Schilder provided sensitive percussion on a range of instruments including hadi, and a lovely klopse beat on the "tea-box", on which he sat. Bambi should surely know that this is all enough. If she had felt secure in herself and the power of her music, she would not have diluted its power with attempts to be like her older sister.
Perhaps if Bambi could allow herself to develop her music and know that this is her exclusive area of brilliance, become an artist in her own right and allow Evita to do what she does best, there may be a healing of the rift between the two sisters. Who knows?
F.A.K Songs and Other Struggle Anthems runs at The Fugard Theatre in Caledon Street off lower Buitenkant Street, from Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm and on Saturdays at 5pm and 8pm, from 31 August to 18 September 2010. Tickets cost from R90 to R120 via 0214614554. Please note all seating is unreserved and the show has a PG10 rating. Dinner with a special Bambi Kabaret menu, before or after the show, is available at 6 Spin Street restaurant with bookings and enquiries via 0214210666 or az.oc.teertsnips6@snoitavreser. www.thefugard.com.
