Others2

Interestingly, the musical director and pianist for the LOTS Orchestra, Filmer Flores V, also put in a solo classical piano recital as a matinee. I’ve been saying not Shakespeare, but this was close enough. He’s been playing piano since he was 4yo, graduated from a performance school then the Philippines Conservatory then won a scholarship to study in Russia and returned to teach at the Conservatory. His favourite is Chopin and he played 3 pieces, as well as Debussy and Liszt and a Philippines folk song. Some challenging pieces nicely played and quite a change. Otherwise, there were aerialists performing to pop with accompaniment of the singers and dancers (the Centrum Wow! Spectacular, no less) in the atrium. I believe this is common on ships. I saw rehearsals the day before and enjoyed the much more presented show on the day. There were two other bands performing at various times. Music Makers were a four piece covers band with a huge repertoire and a great skill in copying vocals (kbd, guit, bass, female drums; all sang). Music Motion were a trio with midi backing (kbd, guitar, both singing with female vocals). And finally, “Manila’s pop virtuoso” Reuben Laurente, did the last show with the LOTS Orchestra. I only managed the first tune after he entered with lofty self-esteem then into Moondance with all bland mediocrity. Pop eats what? The voice seemed OK but I couldn’t take the starry-shirting.

Filmer Flores V, Royal Caribbean Singers, Dancers and Aerialists, Music Motion, Music Makers performed; Reuben Laurente performed with the Legend of the Seas Orchestra.

Others

There’s always a show each night on a cruise ship and I always attend. It’s the most interesting stuff to do and otherwise I don't got to production shows like this. Perhaps I should. I do enjoy them for the immense skills, even if these skills may be applied to fairly mundane matters. But cruises are just floating resorts to me, and this is resort entertainment. There were other shows, surprisingly frequently by Australians. Maybe they are nicely available, being in the vicinity. “Australian master magician” Duck Cameron was something a bit rare for me and many. I enjoyed it all, including his Houdini straight-jacket escape routine but I may not rush back for more illusionisms. Not that I had any idea how he did this stuff. Another Aussie was Tamara Guo, a singer fronting the LOTS orchestra. Chinese background, Mandarin/Cantonese/English speaking, mother having sung opera at the Sydney Opera House in the past, strong voice and matey, jokey presentation in several languages and songs crossing into Mandarin and finishing with heavy rock (It’s my life). David Mimuzio was the onboard “multi-talented Youtube sensation”. He presented a show matching juggling with singing and a lively personality. I enjoyed the odd and venerable skill of juggling although many weren’t so convinced, at least before the show. Jake Henry performed regularly in the Schooner Bar as the resident piano man. Capable and sometimes a good for a singalong (after some beers), although sometimes too loud when the midi started up.

Duck Cameron, Tamara Guo, Jake Henry and David Mimuzio, performed on the Legend of the Seas.

Abfab

So they called the busy interleaved stage show giving tribute to music of the (fairly recent) past, Elton John, Dusty Springfield, Spice Girls, Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey. This was busy and complex arrangements, rapid riffs of songs, joyous portrayals, some really very authentic voices, quick changes for orchestra and costumes. The dancers were at it, often 6-on 2-off or vice-versa, for costumes changes. I’ve seen one of these dressing rooms in the past, small, in doors and outs, with racks of costumes like a dry cleaner’s and plenty of velcro to hold it all together. I remain in awe of the girl dancers, always thinking of that quote from Ginger Rogers, that she has to do it all backwards and with heels. These women were all heeled, presumably with changing heels. I’d come across drummer John on the ship and he’d recommended this show; they’d just had a run-through. He was right. So busy and exciting with a string of hits. Not that I knew them all; my knowledge of Brit-Pop expires well before the Spicers and rap and there was plenty of this. Again, not Shakespeare, but thrilling, busy pop done with real panache. And how long would the dancers take to get this down without the charts the musos take for granted. Loved it.

Absolutely Fabulous was presented by the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers with the Legend of the Seas Orchestra.

Not Shakespeare but

Another night, another show. Cruise life is unconnected with reality, even if you touch on islands and countries. You come to look forward to dinner and drink too much in social lubrication. Not all bad, as the interaction can carry some worthy messages, especially around a bar or perhaps around a maudlin piano-man. And every ship has its theatre and lays its claims for the quality and Broadway-derivation of its theatrical products. It’s Broadway not Stratford-upon-Avon, but it can be good and even emotionally satisfying. Swing City didn’t really have a theme other than that dance has been around a long time or a plot other than a few performers, presumably in order. But what performers, what performance, what swing! The theme tune was Ellington’s It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing and it was a marker for the start and end. Then onwards through a rage of tunes form swing band to croon and doo-wop, viewed as fashion and entertainment with a wry eye perhaps, but great arrangements fabulously performed. The band was again tight as, back of stage, setting the performance but also distant in concentration. I particularly loved the bass, lithe and playful at times and always present and firm and drums which revelled in time and come outgoing flourishes to end. They supported eight dancers (4xmale; 4xfemale) and four singers (2xmale; 2xfemale; I guessed ~SATBaritone). Quick change costumes and groupings and vocal/dance features; short stories presented in lyrics and portrayed in dance and song; place spelt out with costume; dance placed in social context. I just revelled in the expertise in all this: the immensely great American songbook written in busy and demanding arrangements and played with precision and sung and danced with skills and professional joy. Somewhat later they would explain it as “only rock and roll but I like it”, and yet to come will be some line for rap, I guess. Not Shakespeare and not even Broadway of the ilk of West Side Story or Oklahoma. But this was musical theatrics and it was done so well.

Swing City was presented by the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers with the Legend of the Seas Orchestra in the That’s Entertainment theatre. No, not Shakespeare, but.

Just otherwise engaged

Thus I haven’t written for CJ for a time, but here’s an update. The Legend of the Seas Orchestra is great. Well, that’s nothing unexpected. I’m on a cruise ship out of Hong Kong. There are a few bands and the entertainment makes significant claims. The theatre stage is festooned with JBL boxes and sub-woofers and lights and curtains. Alternatively, the Captain’s reception is held with the same orchestra in the atrium, called Centrum. The captain, the various heads of various departments, the pretty girls in white providing champers and the band again. This is a great, slightly reduced big band. I presume they are out of Hong Kong, gathered from some excellent readers, tight as, concentrating but convincing, some decent solos, always confident timing and changes and the rest. First set is various big band charts, from the standards through I luv Lucy to latins, Basie and Ellington and Glen Miller. Plenty of swing in swing-era style. Later, it’s backing for multi-instrumentalist, Danny Elliot, out of Melbourne. Can I recall Danny’s instruments? Clarinet, flute, bagpipes, tin whistles, guitar, didg, vocals, piano, perhaps more. Heart-renders, rock and roll, strains of Ireland and Kazakhstan, some light classics, bumblebee or Tchaik’s first or Bolero or wherever. Capable and popular and entertaining, perhaps not master of any but impressive presenter of many, and always that band behind, concentrating, tight, with those charts. Always spot on. Such a pleasure. I have no idea of names or residence, but I expect Hong Kong. They are great players, as these performers tend to be. Impressive and a true pleasure.

The Legend of the Seas Orchestra is the resident showband on the cruise Ship, Legend of the Seas. Currently cruising the China Sea. They backed Danny Elliot (multi-insstrumentalist) ex-Melbourne.