The greater Durban area has yet another supper theatre – The Dancing Crab which officially opened its doors on June 24.

The venue occupies the old Umhlanga Country Club on Lagoon Drive and is the vision of husband and wife team Francis and Yvonne Cardoso.

The Cardosos supported by a young and enthusiastic cast aim to put on five different shows each week with Saturdays set aside for corporate functions, fund raisers and special events like weddings.

Weddings were what sprang to mind when I arrived at the opening on Saturday. Weddings and rural country clubs (of which I have seen many). It’s early days yet but the venue was decidedly lacking in ambiance for its opening and the décor looked very much like it had been left over from the last wedding reception!

It’s perhaps unfair to pass judgement on the opening night presentation but I’m guessing the media were invited for a reason and, as the saying goes…”Start the way you intend to continue.”

I believe this undertaking is overly ambitious given the strong competition in the local supper-theatre market. The cast is enthusiastic, their costumes are fabulous but the good is heavily outweighed by some serious shortcomings which include a stage that is almost impossible for the cast to access and exit easily.

The limited lighting was used to good effect. The sound (with allowances for first night gremlins) was dreadful. The choreography was instantly forgettable. Allowing members of the cast to wander through the auditorium before and during the show is unforgivable.

Contact The Dancing Crab Restaurant on 031 561 5709. - Brian Roodt