26/09/2023
Thank you Barry Hilton ... my Cousin... you are and will always be SIMPLY the best.
Glenda Paterson Entertainment Director, Wild Coast Sun, send me to meet and greet Barry's Comair flight many moons ago (May 1980) when he landed at Margate Airport for his very first show at the Wild Coast Sun.
On arrival at Wild Coast Sun, Barry went straight to his dressing room to try on his show tuxedo that had been ordered by wardrobe mistress, Maud Kemmey. The tuxedo was about two sizes too small, and we took off to Durban (180kms) to exchange the suit. I had Barry back in his dressing room in time for his 30 minute preshow call, ready for show time.
In addition, I created Barry's first photographic portfolio that was used in the show programme - in the aforementioned suit.
Liza Lewis , Richard Dobbin, Ricky Bianchi , Leslie Berman , Lorenzo Baleri Danny Fisher Bryan Hill Amanda Hill Mazerolle Deborah Anne Hill Penney Lana Lauderdale Rob Samuelson Natalia Da Rocha Dave Bean Johan Laas Lulu V D Walt Denny Lalouette
Since that day so many moons ago, I have been to at least 150 of Barry's 7000 Shows :
The Runway Bar, Holiday Inn Jan Smuts Airport
Jupiter Theatre Wild Coast Sun
CTICC Auditorium Theatre Cape Town
Silverstar Casino, Krugersdorp
A steakhouse in Alberton (forgotten the name)
A restaurant in Observatory Cape Town.
And then, in my capacity as Production Secretary on the Cyril Green Show (flighted on SABC 2) I suggested to Cyril, that Barry be invited to perform.
So, my Barry Hilton story, over three decades, has been almost half of my lifetime (73 years).
A joyful time of friendship, coaching, moral support, guidance, lending an ear, learning life lessons, always full of laughs (and even the occasional tear).... Thank you Barry.....
…and how his mentoring of amateur comic Rory Petzer aims to ensure quality comedy in a tough industry