Review: LAMTA’s Come Together: The Beatles Covered/Uncovered – excellent, brilliantly conceived dance theatre show -not to be missed

Review: LAMTA’s Come Together: The Beatles Covered/Uncovered – excellent, brilliantly conceived dance theatre show -not to be missed- exceptional dance show which is also a potent dance-doccie

Come Together is dance theatre of excellence. See this show. Do not miss: I saw LAMTA Cape Town’s Come Together: The Beatles Covered/Uncovered in June 2022 at Theatre on the Bay. I raved about the conceptual arc – telling the story of the Beatles- through well- known and lesser known covers of their songs- the artistry, inspire choreography, staging and knockout dancing by LAMTA. I was blown away by the show. It is student show. LAMTA [Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy] is a musical theatre academy based at Pieter Toerien’s Theatre on the Bay. However, this show is way beyond what one might expect from a student academy. After its success in Cape Town in 2022, producer Pieter Toerien toured the show to his theatre in Johannesburg, Montecasino and received rave notices and there were sold out houses.

Seeing Come Together: The Beatles Covered/Uncovered, now for its 2023 return run at Theatre on the Bay (until February 11- that’s it – short season) and I can say that it is even better than when I first saw it in 2022. It is an exceptional show – perhaps one could term it a documentary-dance drama. Interspersed with the songs/dance is awesome archival footage which track the Beatles journey – from its formation, the fun that it as a group, the adoration fans wooing to get close to them and then the feuding and breaking up. Each number is choreographed by leading South African choreographers which includes Duane Alexander, a principal of LAMTA in Cape Town and LAMTA students.

It is rare for me to go and see a show for a 2^nd time, so soon after seeing it and people have been asking –‘you going again, you must have loved it’. Yes, I loved it first time, June 2022 and loved it again. It’s not merely as showcase for dance, framed around the songbook of the Fab Four, but is very much a gritty and compelling piece of dance theatre. It shifts between fun, whimsical and poignant. The covers of the Beatles songs are magic – such as Dianna Krall’s heart wrenching, In My life with beautiful choreography by Robin van Wyk. Natalie Fisher’s choreo for Long & Winding Road (covered by Billy Ocean) took my breath away in the push-pull of figures, balancing and moving on a journey. Eleanor Rigby (covered by Cody Fry), with choreo by Duane Alexander and the LAMTA company, had me on the edge of my seat, first time round and in my 2^nd viewing, it is even more powerful – a story song which plays out so palpably on the stage with the animated dancers, not only nailing the dance but also conveying an impressive emotional range through gesture and facial expressions.

Every number is polished, tight, with impeccable attention to detail and with a seamless flow between lyrics, music, movement and each number riffs off the other so that show comes together powerfully as a production and is not a compilation of songs stitched together by a theme. The staging, design (light, set, costumes) is pitch perfect.

LAMTA’s Come Together: The Beatles Covered/Uncovered is energetic, celebratory and has soul which elevates as hugely memorable dance theatre show. Many LAMTA students have been cast in major musical theatre productions and their excellence is evidenced in this sensational show. Go see it. Ends Saturday – February 11, 2023.

✳ Image supplied.