‘Remembering Johnny’ rocks the national theatre

THEATREGOERS were immersed in a dance extravaganza as Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) rocked the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) with ‘Remembering Johnny’ last Friday.

The toe-tapping tribute to the ‘French Elvis’ celebrated the music of Johnny Hallyday, a widely popular rock ‘n’ roll and pop singer from France who died in 2017 at the age of 74.

Presenting a series of scenes and dance numbers set to a selection of songs from Hallyday’s 57-year career, ‘Remembering Johnny’, directed and choreographed by Philippe Talavera, employed OYO’s signature take on dramatic physical theatre.

The large-scale production featured the OYO dancers, a number of guest performers, a choir of 50 teenagers learning French in school conducted by Fanie Dorfling, the Hot Pocket Band, as well as the singing talent of Sven-Eric Müller and Clementine Ruel, totalling over 70 performers.

Taking centre stage in the large ensemble were dancers Desmond Kamerika and Mary Jane Andreas who mesmerised as two of the leads.

Channeling Hallyday and the various women in his life but also symbolic of the often tumultuous nature of relationships in general and also specifically in the Namibian context, the tireless duo soared through the production’s eclectic choreography, which incorporated dance styles ranging from ballroom to contemporary to ballet, to lend physicality to themes of love, jealousy, gender-based violence, loss, incarceration and regret.

Thrilling in the ensemble pieces elevated by effective costuming and minimalist but impressive staging including a haunting jail scene lowered from the ceiling, ‘Remembering Johnny’ included the talented OYO troupe of lead dancers Sydney Farao, George Williams and Joe ‘White’ Nakapela, as well as dancers Jeffrey Ndjahera, Avahe Muuindjo, Berry Goraseb, Sophia Janser, Karlus Kasenge, dance trainees Cathleen Junie and Christolito Mouton, and guest dancers LeClue Job and Nsimba Faycal.

With five songs sung gamely by Sven-Eric Müller in their original French, the audience was also treated to a vivid vocal take on Hallyday’s music.

Though much of the audience didn’t speak French and may have been unfamiliar with Hallyday, the selection of high energy rock ‘n’ roll hits, soulful ballads and intense love songs resonated beyond the language barrier and succeeded in introducing a crop of locals to the French star.

“Like most French people, I listened to Johnny Hallyday songs from when I was a child. Mum and dad liked him. I remember mum singing some of his tunes. I briefly met him once in the streets of Lyon in 1994,” says Talavera.

“But the inspiration behind putting this together came from various discussions with various people. We wanted to find a project where the dancers could perform something different, where we could involve some learners who are learning French in schools, and where I could work with live music and Sven-Eric.”

‘Remembering Johnny’ received support from the Consulat Général de France in Johannesburg and the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre.

The Johnny Youth Choir includes French language pupils from Jan Jonker Secondary School, St. Paul’s High School, and Windhoek Children Voices.

A rare night at the national theatre and a well-paced and inspired showing of OYO’s wonderful dance talent, ‘Remembering Johnny’ was on show for one night only as OYO celebrates its 20th year.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com