Some of the most breathtakingly beautiful contemporary music has been written and performed by 80’s pop icon and ballad king – Billy Joel. Duncan Royce is staging a stylish tribute to this awesome performer in his new production Uptown Guy which previews at the Langoustine Supper Theatre by the Sea from September 5.

Duncan Royce and his Stampeding Buffalo company have once more gathered the cream of the performing crop around them for this production which features some familiar faces who have not appeared in Durban for a while: namely Andrew Webster, Shelley McLeane and Percy Smith with newcomer to Durban - Fanie Fouche on piano.

Directing the show with Belinda Harward as co-director, Duncan is using members of his winning Mercury Rising production team for this project. Roelof Colyn is music director, Greg King has designed the set and Mark Kleinart is the lighting designer.

“At his peak, Billy Joel was a phenomenal and prolific music-maker and interesting personality,” said Duncan. “Few people realise that he was the first artist to record on CD and also the first major international act to perform in Russia after the fall of the iron curtain. He also is responsible for many of the top eighties ballads and pop songs which we still hum along to today.”

Among the songs to be featured include: New York State of Mind, It’s My Life, Say Goodbye to Hollywood, Just the Way You Are, We Didn’t Start the Fire, Honesty, She’s Always a Woman to Me, Tell Her About It, Innocent Man, Leningrad, Still Rock and Roll to Me and The Longest Time.

The show will be performed to a combination of live music and top quality backing tracks with all cast members singing and playing instruments.

Early booking is advised through the Lango on (031) 563-7324 or through Computicket. Tickets Wednesday to Saturday R120 include a quality three-course meal. Special discounted performances at R99 (two-course meal) on Tuesday and Sunday.