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The Bar At Buena Vista Festival Theatre Fri 11 June, Season closed It was Ry Cooder who with the widely acclaimed 1997 compact disc and film introduced the West to Cuban music and The Bar At Buena Vista rather cheekily cashes in on this success. Cooder's introduction is more evocative and it was the milieu of a smoke-filled dust covered venue that was missing for this slick production. No doubt the show would have been better suited to the Space with its cabaret style seating as the impersonality of the larger Festival Theatre detracted in no small part from the effectiveness from this production. What was presented was closer to a semi-staged and scripted bilingual musical complete with choreography, bar and dance floor. Yet in spite of all these excesses the music shone through. Those who felt that they were getting a reprise of Cooder's acclaimed album and filmed concerts may have been surprised. Yet in spite of the clinically cleaned set and direction the music shone through. Musically there was much to admire and cherish due in no small part to the authoritative singer of the 86 year old marvel Reynaldo Creagh who understandably brought the house down with his impassioned El Paralytico. Similarly the diva Siomara Valdes sang with an authority and sensuality that brought the capacity audience to its feet and various audience members to the stage to partner her in a seductive and ageless dance. The septet of master musicians featured a troupe which included the amazing octogenarian pianist Guillermo Rubalcanal who dedicated his solo set to his departed friend Ruben Gonzalez, and the superlative trumpet of Julio Padron. Bandleader Luis Frank also acted as MC and sang the majority of selections, which included several songs made famous by the Cooder album including the seductively evocative Chan Chan and Cuarto de Tula.  |
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