Melanie Ebanks and Friends – Teri Quappe, Rory Mann & David Verhoeven – WOWED the packed and very appreciative audience at The Prospect Playhouse, Red Bay, Grand Cayman last Thursday (14).

To pack a theatre on opening night on a Thursday in the Cayman Islands is a very rare event but Melanie and her friends did it.

This is the third time the “Cocktails & Cabaret” show has been performed in aid of the Zac Quappe Memorial Scholarship Fund and it is fitting that the late Zak Quappe’s sister, Teri was one of the performers.

Zak was tragically killed in a motor car accident in May 2013 and “Cocktails & Cabaret” is dedicated to his memory. Zak not only loved flying but he also enjoyed assisting at many productions at the Prospect Playhouse even treading the boards in “Watler’s War”.

The Scholarship Fund is available to young persons who, like Zak, want to fly. Zak was a flying instructor at the Cayman Flying Club at the time of his accident.

Back to the show….. it was a compendium of show tunes that some I was familiar with and others I was hearing for the very first time. All the pieces chosen enabled the singer and singers to perform not only with their delightful voices, but to interpret the pieces as actors. They all got totally into character.

Everything song performed was outstanding but we all have favourites. Mine were both solo pieces performed by Rory Mann – “Good News, Mrs Davenport” and “Smell of Rebellion”. I laughed, as did the whole audience, until I dropped.

There was also a powerful performance of the song “Dangerous Games” from the next Cayman Drama Society production, “Jeckyll and Hyde”, with Domininic Wheaton in the title role and Teri Quappe.

After watching that you had better reserve your tickets now (September 18 – October 11 at the Prospect Playhouse).

I mustn’t forget the musicians. Glen Inanga and Chuck & Barrie. Outstanding!!

The Director was the multi-talented Melanie Ebanks herself. When she comes on stage she owns it!

The narrator was Lani Bothwell who did an excellent job of introducing the various songs with some tidbits of information that was very helpful and added to the whole enjoyment of the production. Lani was also the Stage Manager.

The Producer was Melanie’s proud mum – Sheree.

Many others, too numerous to mention were also responsible to make this a WOW of a show.

I look forward to the very next “Cocktails and Cabaret” featuring Melanie & Friends.

For more information on the Zak Qappe Memorial Fund contact Sheree Ebanks at 916-2722, or Karie bergstrom at 938-5858 or rhe cayman Flying Club at: http://caymanflyingclub.com/

Related: From the Cayman Drama Society:

AUDITIONS

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

Audition/Callback Dates:

Audition – Thursday August 28th at 7:30 pm

Callback – Thursday September 4th at 7:30 pm

Location:

Prospect Playhouse

(next to Lighthouse School, Red Bay)

Roles Available:

Two very experienced male actors (Both parts ideally require UK regional accents) are required to fill the roles of:

ARTHUR KIPPS – Late 40’s to 60s

THE ACTOR – Late 20’s to 30s

Lines – up to October 10th

Rehearsals – from October 13

Performances January 15th to 31st 2015

If you will be auditioning, please email director Paul de Freitas ([email protected]) for further information and preparation material.

For more information www.cds.ky