Kerry Hiles | antakalipa

Amy Winehouse: The Diva and Her Demons

On the Square for the Amy Winehouse: The Diva and Her Demons show, I thought it was opening night. Melidah set things right. Tonight is the preview, opening night is on Friday. Finger too quick on the trigger, Friday is too far. I’ll watch the preview tonight and come back tomorrow for the opening!

I’ve been excited about the show ever since I heard it’s coming on the square. Amy Winehouse is my favorite artist of all time! Couldn’t see her live but tonight was the closest thing to a Amy Winehouse concert. Kerry Hiles was amazing on Judy Garland’s “A star is born” – Amanda Bothma duh but she really did it this time! That just might be the best tribute show of all time! Incredible show! Kerry simultaneously narrates Amy’s life, it’s informative, intimate and insightful, she talks Amy’s early days, her parents, Blake, smoking Marijuana, crack cocaine, alcoholism, Frank, fashion sense, winning 5 Grammy awards in one night, Tony Bennett, Back to Black and her ultimate demise. Songs off Frank, Back to Black and Lioness: Hidden Treasures were performed. I lost my mind when I heard “Cherry” – I didn’t expect that! I lost total control of my body when they performed “You’re Wondering Now” and “Monkey Man”.

Other songs performed were “Me and Mr. Jones”, “Addicted”, “Valerie”, “Love is a losing game”, “Rehab”, “Tears Dry on Their Own”, “Take the Box”, “Stronger Than Me”, “Our Day Will Come”, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and the posthumously Grammy award winning “Body and Soul” with Tony Bennett.

A perfect way to start off the new year! What are you waiting for? Go get your tickets now! They are only here for 10 days!

Kerry Hiles is on Vocals and the Bass.
Roscoe Nefdt plays the guitar.
Kristo Zondagh is on drums and suitcase – you’ll understand when you see the show.

The music is crispy fresh and reimagined. Kerry is mesmerizing on the vocals while Kristo lends his voice to the backup. I loved “Valerie”. It’s so cool they performed all the music that I loved. I couldn’t stop singing and dancing! What an experience! The theatre is going to have a hard time keeping me out – my spirit is screaming encore! I love Kerry Hiles even more now – she could never do wrong in my eyes.

Thank you Theatre on the square for bringing Amy Winehouse to me. My favorite artist of all time!

Congratulations Misery Loves Company for a great show and a deserved standing ovation.

📸: SamSays

A Star is Born

Reverse engineering, what’s the last thing you see after a Amanda Bothma show? Standing ovation, people on their feet, clapping their hands enthusiastically. A lukewarm response is unfathomable. Using a Star Wars anology, the force forces you to stand elevated. It’s an appreciation thing for what you have just witnessed on the stage. Her shows are a prime example of finesse. It’s the writing, it’s witty, biographical and humanizes the subjects to make them relatable, the writing has a lot feeling and emotion. The experience coops in your mind like a cacoon and you leave the show feeling like a butterfly. Almost witchcraft, it keeps you in a trance where you are at her mercy but then she strings you along a roller coaster ride and the end result is just satisfying. The music usually the best in the world. You can’t help but to get on your feet and start applauding – the force has you!

You gotta love opening night, the sold out audience, the energy, the excitement! I absolutely had no doubts about “A Star Is Born”, I came prepared, I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. I went to the theatre expecting a great show. I went to the theatre expecting to be dazzled and the show delivered. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Kerry Hiles, she’s magnetic, charismatic and that smile radiates like the suns ray. It’s contagious, she radiates warmth, she’s beautiful. Amazing performer, story-teller and singer. Her comedic timing is spot-on. She sings with emotion, passion and the delivery – top notch.

Reverse engineering, the show starts off with Judy Garland’s death and chronicles the life she lived. Tragic, she had everything young; success, acclaim, awards but died relatively poor because of his management team, sleeping on fans couches. I guess money and celebrity won’t make you happy if you have never been happy. Instead it stretches out the hole in your soul. Depression, imposter syndrome, drugs, divorces, awards, acclaim, suicide attempts, success, money, failure and the adoration of the world – a hell of a life! Ultimately, she died courtesy of a accidental overdose of sleeping pills. Yes, accidental, an autopsy confirmed it. Don’t understand the beauty standards of her day, movie executives claimed she was ugly. How’s that possible? She’s beautiful and her image is iconic but I guess anything to keep her in line and keep her turning that money wheel. She has been turning that money-wheel for executives ever since she was 13 years old, making them millions throughout her life. Her whole life, she was created by executives. Show-business, it’s not pretty and you have to have a thick skin. All the love from the world can make you feel so alone. No one really cares, you are just a mirage, a fleeting moment, a pay day to exploit. Everyone forgets you’re a human being.

Overall, tragic story masterfully told by a expert storyteller. She is expressive, her voice has range, uses her body and hands to communicate and express herself, she is lively, animated and makes use of the stage to perfection. The singing is top-tier all the way. The lighting intimate, subtle and nuanced but still moves the story. Set minimal with just a chair, three big pictures and the piano on stage. Luke Holder on piano didn’t put a foot wrong all night, he complimented Kerry, they were in sync, they were unstoppable! Great show, will be coming back for Kerry’s smile and her exploits on the stage.