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BIG VOICE, BIG HEART featuring Donna Africa and Thuba Myeki. (The Chaplin at Uptown Theatres tonight).

A GLAMOROUS entrance is made as Donna Africa gets the party started with a brilliant performance of one of Pink’s first hits, Get This Party Started. Immediately the audience is enraptured by her dazzling persona and one can not help to wonder how it is possible for anyone to have such an incredible voice. The moment she begins her astonishing performance of Shirley Bassey’s Diamonds Are Forever, the well-known local performer miraculously transforms herself into the most divine diva.

Thuba Myeki, a bright star from Port Elizabeth’s boy-band, Escape, makes his appearance and doubt arises and one wonders if his voice will be able to compete with Africa’s. Then comes his performance from the bottom of his heart and the result is nothing less than exhilarating. Their performance of Alexandra Burke’s Hallelujah silenced the crowd and nearly had me in tears. Entertained by their onstage performances and theatrical interpretation of Hit the Road Jack, this duo sets the stage on fire and effortlessly owns the crowd’s attention. They take the audience on a trip down a musical avenue with recent hits from Robbie Williams, Michael Buble and classics by Whitney Houston and Gladys Knight.

By the time Africa reached her Shirley Bassey tribute, the audience had loosened up tremendously, cheering and waving with excitement. When she reached her sensual impersonation of Tina Turner, everyone was so delighted they could not help but sing along, heartily encouraged by the performers.

It is strange how one can be familiar with a song and know the words off by heart, yet when Africa and Myeki deliver their heartfelt performance of it, one rediscovers the true meaning of the lyrics and falls in love with it all over again. No wonder Centrestage calls their show Big Voice, Big Heart, for any other title would struggle to do justice to this wonderful duo. – Reviewed by Lana Breedt