Ipi Ntombi

Forget Grease, the word is Ipi Ntombi (literally: "where are the girls?). Subtitled An African Dance Celebration, this hit musical--which originally opened in Johannesburg South Africa in 1974--has been revamped for a new audience with some of the 50 cast members being direct descendants of the original dancers. On the surface, Ipi Ntombi is your basic city boy/country girl love story. After a young man (Jones Hlope) from the village moves to Johannesburg and gets a job in the mines, he returns to wed his sweetheart (Linda Sezebo). He wants a Christian church wedding; she wants a traditional ceremony, presided over by the local spiritual authority (the village medicine man). This clash of cultures drives the main narrative thread of Ipi Ntombi and allows the dance troupe to stage elaborate, radiantly colorful dances contrasting city and village life (in one wonderful scene, we see a belt-it-out-from-the-soles-of-your-feet gospel number followed by a decidedly more physically kinetic tribal celebration song). Colorful costuming, energetic dancing, memorable tunes, and a great sense of humor make this South African version of a boy meets girl musical a real treat. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)