AN evening of folk nostalgia awaited attendees of The Simon & Garfunkel Story at the Grand Opera House last night.

Backed by a minimalist backdrop, Dean Elliott and David Tudor embodied the iconic duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

Opening with The Sound Of Silence, they impressed the audience with their musical abilities. They had the support of an excellent band and show founder Elliott demonstrated serious guitar virtuosity, but it was their vocals that stole the show.

Often, attempts at portraying other artists result in lukewarm performances. Elliot and Tudor’s vocals steered them away from that criticism; they sent chills down the spine.

The two-hour show followed the chronology of the duo’s discography, taking us all the way from their awkward years as Tom & Jerry to the classics off Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Between songs, they spoke about the context of the music. Their use of imagery also helped in communicating the atmosphere of the 1960s.

A slideshow in the background was walking us through the duo’s life, parallel to the songs. Particularly interesting was their use of pictures depicting the general character of the times. The summer of love and the American |Dream were explored through videos and slides.

Special note must be given to the band, who delivered the varied song list very well. While the leads' close study of character was apparent, their acting was veiled in a translucent aura of awkwardness.

This well received performance was a pleasant walk down memory lane, notable for its multidimensional portrayal of Simon and Garfunkel.