Wonder’s catalogue of music has transcended generations since the ’60s, and host Chloe Castledine and her 17-piece band The Cast present a groovy slice of the celebrated singer-songwriter’s evergreen discography in Wonderfull!.
As audience members are guided through Victoria Square / Tartanyangga venue The Pyramid’s dark and cinema-like entryway, they are greeted by 15 musicians waiting on stage in red turtlenecks and red dresses. Curiously, there is also a painting easel at the front of the stage.
Adelaide muralist and visual artist Alexandra Bellas begins painting her silhouette-style artwork of Wonder, accompanied by a four-part string section and keyboard to introduce the show.
Right through the fast-paced 60-minute set, the band is top-class, with a tight horn section, well-balanced backing vocals, a strong, funky rhythm section holding it all down, and superb strings (from Strings Source ensemble).
Seamless transitions between songs help build an exciting level of energy. The arrangements, written by talented music director and keyboardist David Goodwin, are strong from start to finish. His harmonies are thick and delicious across the whole band.
The Cast’s high energy creates a joyful atmosphere in which the musicians obviously relish each other’s performance.
Reprising Wonderfull! from its 2022 season, the band is joined by a number of special guests throughout the night. Brian Ruiz steps forward from the backing vocals to take centre-stage for a soulful rendition of “I Wish”. Winston Howard embodies the charismatic Wonder to sing and tell the history of many of the singer’s more political songs, such as “He’s Misstra Know-It-All” and “You Haven’t Done Nothin’”, as well as their impact on American society at the time. Video clips of Wonder singing and giving speeches are interspersed in this section of the show to offer a glimpse of the real-life history behind his music.
Henry Olonga is the last guest to join the band to sing “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing”. Each special guest is accomplished and presents their own take on these Stevie Wonder classics.
“Isn’t She Lovely” provides some fun surprises when different members of the band share the mic for a chorus or two, including trombonist Aaron Deanshaw and percussionist Dan Ryan.
It is near impossible not to tap your foot and groove along with the band or join the dancing crowd at the back of the venue.
In case anyone needs reminding, Wonderfull! makes us realise just how many big, funky hits Wonder has produced, and the influential power he has held for decades. The high-quality talent of Adelaide’s musicians is on full display in this jubilant show that has audience members leaving on a high.
Wonderfull! A Celebration of Stevie Wonder was presented at The Pyramid @ Fool’s Paradise as part of the Adelaide Fringe. Its season has now finished, but Chloe Castledine and The Cast are also presenting The Pyramid show 80s Ladies, which reimagines songs from some of the most influential female artists of the 1980s (it runs from March 3-17).
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Shannon Pearce is the third recipient of the Helpmann Academy InReview Mentorship. She is working with experienced writers Graham Strahle and Samela Harris to write a series of articles for publication in InReview.
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