Yet again The Rocks Hotel brought international entertainment to North Cyprus.
The signature buffet for these shows, as always, was amazing. The choice was diverse – lobster, caviar, crab, lamb, crepes, salad, sushi, rice… the menu was endless. The waiting staff brought free drinks on demand and cleared away within seconds but were never intrusive and the fireworks’ show was very popular with the audience.

Mehmet Ali Erbil, a leading comedian on Star TV in Turkey, opened the show and had the audience in the palm of his hands, well the Turkish speaking element anyway! He was opening for Dionne Warwick who, despite her ‘plane from Malta landing 4 hours late, took to the stage, a little late admittedly, and wowed the audience with her laid back manner and well loved, easy listening songs.

She may be pushing 70 but this popular diva can still fill the seats and get the audience on its feet. She began, accompanied by her 6-piece band, with the song Walk on By, which she recorded in 1964. She followed with Anyone Who Had a Heart, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, a cover version of which became a UK number one hit for Cilla Black, in 1964.

Hit after hit followed, You’ll Never Get to Heaven; I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, Kentucky Bluebird and I Need Your Love. Perhaps feeling the strain of touring and finding the heat a little debilitating, she introduced a song which she described as “dear to my heart” and brought on her eldest son, David Elliott, to sing a duet. David is a musician, singer-songwriter and actor and has an uncanny likeness to his mother in her younger days. They sang I Say A Little Prayer (theme from Valley of the Dolls) and it was quite breathtaking. David has an amazing voice and I cannot think why I have never heard of him before.

Ms Warwick continued with her 1967 hit Alfie, then her 1982 single, Heartbreaker, written for her by the Bee Gees. Another Burt Bacharach and Hall David song followed, Do You Know the Way to San Jose. By now, the audience was on its feet as she continued with I Know I’ll Never Love this Way Again and What the World Needs Now.
She saved the best until last and, bringing on David Elliott again, they sang That’s What Friends Are For which was a one-off collaboration featuring Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder and released as a charity single in the UK and the USA in 1985. It raised over US$3 million for the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

Ms Warwick leaves North Cyprus and travels to Italy where she will perform 5 shows in various cities. We thank you for coming and if you enjoyed your welcome, spread the word. North Cyprus is a friendly place and you will always receive a “’Hosgeldiniz” here despite what others might say.

Marsha Marlowe

Click on the thumbnails below to see more pictures from the evening.

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