I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
11comments
“I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE”
Music by Jimmy Roberts : Lyrics by Joe Dipietro
Starring Shannyn Fourie, Niall Griffin, Roland Perold and Candice van Litsenborgh
Directed by Paul Griffiths
Musical Direction by Roland Perold
Designed by Niall Griffin
WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY
MAY 19 TO JUNE 12, 2010 @ 20H30
English : Ticket Price – R100 p.p.
Groups of 10 or more – R80 p.p.
Bookings – 073-2205430
BIGLEAF PRODUCTIONS in association with Dalro presents the hilarious musical comedy revue
“I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE!“
From the thrill and terror of the first date, to the sacred kiss and wedded bliss. From the reality of kids coming and going, to finding someone to grow old with – I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! will have you tapping your feet along with smash hits like Single Man Drought, He Called Me, Always a Bridesmaid, Marriage Tango and Waiting.
Everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit, is presented in this collection of hilarious scenarios depicting the age old ritual of the suburban mating game. You’ve been there – you’ve done it – now watch the musical!
The cast includes Roland Perold, Niall Griffin, Shannyn Fourie and Candice van Litsenborgh who collectively bring to the production a range of performance experiences having played both leading and supporting roles in National and International productions of Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Beauty and the Beast and Cats amongst others.
Directed by Award Winning Director Paul Griffiths with Musical Direction by Roland Perold and Design by Niall Griffin – this production has a limited season at the Kalk Bay Theatre before moving on to a National Tour. Book early to avoid disappointment.
I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE plays at the Kalk Bay Theatre from 19th May – 12th June. The show runs Wednesday – Sunday. Doors at the theatre open at 18:00 at which time patrons can enjoy dinner and drinks at the restaurant upstairs. The show starts at 20:30. Tickets are R 100.00 and can be booked on 073-2205430.
“CÉST LA VIE”
3comments
“C’EST LA VIE”
featuring Michele Maxwell
English and some French / 70 mins
APRIL 28 TO MAY 15, 2010 @ 20h30
Ticket Price ~ R100 p.p.
Bookings – phone 073-2205430
‘’C’EST LA VIE’’ is Michele Maxwell at the piano with a wealth of French songs, Jazz Standards, and her own story-telling, to weave her way through observations of life, and the twists and turns of romantic love, reaching a place of self acceptance, where one can say ‘’That’s life! ’’ She sings in French and in English from the repertoire of Edith Piaf, Nina Simone, Shirley Horn, Jacques Brel ,Charles Trenet, and Dave Brubeck, amongst others; with Blues, Latin and Swing, moving the pace along.
The show has been playing since November last year in many different venues, with great success. In Johannesburg : a three week run at‘ Foxwood House’, for prestigious restaurants like ‘ Le Canard’ and’ Chez Girard’, and most recently at Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate in Wellington.
With her acting skills and vibrant musical energy, Michele brings depth, sensitivity and panache to this evocative cabaret.
MICHELE MAXWELL is a well-known Stage and T.V. actress, and an experienced Musician. At UCT, she studied both Music and Drama, and after graduating in 1973 , became a founder member of THE SPACE, THE BAXTER, and THE MARKET THEATRE Companies.
As an ACTRESS she’s had leading roles in ‘’The Cherry Orchard’’, Major Barbara’’ ‘’Cowboy Mouth’’, ‘’Steel Magnolias’’, ‘’Absurd Person Singular’’ and in the landmark production of ‘’Death Of A Salesman’’ with the late Bill Flynn.
As a THEATRE MUSICIAN she has been MUSICAL DIRECTOR/PIANIST on : ‘’SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM’’, ‘’MARAT SADE’’ & ‘’AFRICAN ODYSSEY’’ among others , and taken lead roles in musicals such as, ‘’GUYS’NDOLLS’’, ‘’MAME’’, ‘’OKLAHOMA’’, ‘’NUNSENSE’’ & ‘’ANNIE’’.
Out of the country for all of the Eighties, and based in London, the co-created South African show, ‘’Boogie Woogie!” played at the Edinburgh Festival in 1981 and transferred to the West End, followed by extensive touring . She was also in ‘’Poppie Nongena’’ at The Riverside Studios and Donmar Warehouse which toured to Australia, Canada and the U.S.A. A vocalist for many Jazz ensembles, she became a regular on the Piano Bar circuit all over the U.K and in 5 Star Hotels in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Israel, Holland, Belfast and on the North Sea Cruises. She was invited to be the Solo Act between the Big Bands at the IMATRA JAZZ FEST ( on the borders of Russia and Finland ) sharing the stage with Georgie Fame and Mel Lewis. Whilst overseas, she was also cast in a video with Mike Oldfield ( ‘’Crimes Of Passion’’)
CABARET SHOWS include: ‘’20th CENTURY BLUES’’ with Dave Ledbetter, Dave Ridgway, Kesivan Naaido, ‘’TRIBUTE TO NINA SIMONE’’ with Thembi Mtshali-Jones,
‘’JACQUES BREL’’ with Graham Clarke, ‘’MUSICAL POSTCARDS’’ with Andrew Ford and Jan Hough and ‘’FEMME FATALE’’ with Ian Von Memerty.
BANDS
‘’Short Attention Span Ensemble’’ with Johnny Fourie, Sean Fourie, Glenn Veale, Barry Van Zyl.
‘’New Jazz Ensemble’’ with John Davis, Graham Currie, Stan Jones, Billy McKinley.
‘’Michele Maxwell Band’’ with Marc Duby, Barry Van Zyl, Kevin Davidson.
T.V MUSIC FEATURES
‘’My Jazz Indaba’’ ‘’Jazzmatazz’’ ‘’Jazz, Jazz, Jazz’’
T.V ACTING ROLES include the popular villainess ‘Abigail Martins’ in SCANDAL! , The loveable ‘Bubbles’ in ISIDINGO; STREAKS and FISHY FESHIONS. She has recently finished filming on the British T.V. Series, ‘’Wild At Heart.’’
CAPE TIMES – 16.03.2010
add a commentSTRONG PERFORMERS DRIVE THE STORY FORWARD
AN INTIMATE LOOK AT TWO WOMEN’S FRIENDSHIP
March 16, 2010 Edition 1
Terri Dunbar-Curran
LONDON ROAD.
Directed by Lara Bye, with Ntombi Makhutshi and Robyn Scott.
At the Kalk Bay Theatre until April 10.
TERRI DUNBAR-CURRAN reviews.
There’s a nervous familiarity between the women as they stand, bench between them, admiring the view. Stella smiles tentatively, wary of Rosa’s easy chatter. Despite the vast differences between the strong Nigerian woman abandoned by her husband and the elderly Jewish widow, their slow blossoming friendship is all they have.
As Rosa digs in her handbag for the bread she has saved for the seagulls, the trivial conversation turns carefully from the view, to matters of the heart and missing family. Stella, once guarded and angry, turns, face softening, to comfort the elderly woman. The small, yet powerful gesture of a caring hand on a shoulder captures the essence of this story.
Lara Bye’s production of London Road, written by Nicholas Spagnoletti in collaboration with the director and cast, takes an intimate look at the lives of two women thrown together after a brush with crime.
We meet Stella, played by Ntombi Makhutshi, and Rosa, played by Robyn Scott, as they discover that Stella’s humble home has been broken into. A poor woman, paying exorbitant rent, and doing whatever she can to survive, Stella is instantly suspicious of Rosa’s presence in her flat.
Makhutshi plays the character with controlled strength, she strides, glares and leans heavily on the back of a chair, sizing up the inquisitive woman who has wormed her way into her private space. The pain in her eyes is evident as she speaks of her husband, but with a sharp suck of her teeth, she is in control once more. Makhutshi’s performance is stirring, especially as her character comes to realise the importance of the new friendship.
Scott’s Rosa, in comparison, is quick to connect with a stranger. There is a desperate loneliness about the way she invites the Nigerian woman into her home and takes care of her. It is clearly more than just neighbourly curiosity, she craves the company. Scott is engaging as the elderly woman. She shuffles across the stage, gapes in awe and, as she disappears back into memories, she sweeps the audience along with her. From a cup of tea with “bickies” to the tissue tucked up her cardigan sleeve, Scott creates a beautifully detailed portrait of a woman as real as our own grandparents. She captures the vulnerability and wry humour of her character completely. Rosa’s frank observations create just the right amount of levity to balance the pathos of the show.
While there is a rough plot – it serves mainly to highlight the passing of time. It is the characters that really drive the story forward and Scott and Makhutshi, both strong performers, pour so much emotion into Rosa and Stella that it’s difficult not to care what happens to them. They have such presence that the silent moments on stage at times convey far more than any lines could even attempt. This is far more than just a story of opposites – it’s a story of loss, loneliness, strength and survival. It is also the tale of a changing neighbourhood and the shift in attitude of its residents.
Making use of a table and two chairs, Craig Leo’s set is uncluttered and combined with emotive lighting by Faheem Bardien and sound by Braam du Toit, London Road is awash with lingering, powerful images of the two women in relation to one another. It’s those tender vignettes that linger long after the lights have faded.
London Road will show at Kalk Bay Theatre at 8.30pm from Wednesday to Saturday until April 10. Tickets are R100. To book, call 073 220 5430.
——————————————————————————–
HARRY CURTIS WHAT’S ON BLURB
add a commentSUNDAY MARCH 14 : DEAN MARTIN PART I
HARRY CURTIS IN CONCERT : THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY
One of a series of concerts featuring the music and stories from the life of artists such as Dean Martin, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, David Gates, Bobby Darin, Trini Lopez, Matt Munro, Dusty Springfield, Johnny Mathis and others.
Read More
Doors open @17h30 : Light Meal, Snacks & Drinks available : Show starts @ 19h00
BOOKINGS : 073-2205430 / 083 412 3980 / 021 762 0255 / 021 794 3828
Tickets : R100 per person (Pensioners R75)
LONDON ROAD
6commentsWORLD PREMIERE AT KBT – LONDON ROAD OPENS MARCH 11, 2010
“LONDON ROAD”, a tender, funny and heartbreaking story about two women from diverse backgrounds, will premiere at the Kalk Bay Theatre on 11 March. The script won the Audience Choice award at the PANSA new South African Playwriting competition in 2007 and an award-winning, all-South African, stellar creative team will bring the full production to life.
“London Road is a simple and intimate reflection on growing old, loneliness, fragmented families and the healing power of a friendship,” says director Lara Bye. “It is a glimpse into the private lives of two very different women living in a block of flats in London Road in Sea Point.”
On the surface, Stella and Rosa Kaplowitz have nothing in common. Stella is a young Nigerian woman living in a damp, converted storage room. Long distant family, dodgy gangsters and a sense of survival makes her very mistrusting of the gestures of strangers. Rosa is an elderly Jewish widow living in a flat on the fifth floor. Her children and grandchildren live in Australia and Israel so she keeps herself occupied by becoming very involved in the business of her neighbourhood. She is determined to fight against age and illness, but her body and memory start to fail her – how can she remember every detail of a long past love affair, but accidently shop lift a tin of Milo from the Pick ‘n Pay?
After an act of violence, these two women find themselves stranded together like the flotsam and jetsam washed up on the beach front. Themes unite them – absent men, scattered families, broken relationships, a dark sense of humour and survival.
“Stella and Rosa are performed with grace and humour by two of Cape Town’s leading young actresses – Robyn Scott and Ntombi Makhutshi,” says Bye. “Robyn Scott recently mesmerised audiences in Elizabeth-Almost By Chance A Woman, which earned her a Fleur Du Cap nomination for Best Actress. She is a renowned and award-winning character actress and has lovingly created Rosa.
“Up-and-coming actress Ntombi Makhutshi was most recently seen in Iago’s Last Dance and Die Storie Van Die Vertaalde Mense. She is breathtaking in her versatility and depth.”
London Road is written by seasoned TheatreSports performer and rising Cape Town writer, Nicholas Spagnoletti. He also writes short stories and satirical sketches and appeared in Robert Silke’s acclaimed movie, The Satyr of Springbok Heights, as well as owning his own software development company in the Cape Town CBD.
As a long-time resident of Sea Point, London Road is born out of his observations and overheard conversations within this unique community.
“Sea Point has long been a new home for many immigrants, minority groups and marginalized people,” says Spagnoletti. “The play echoes the realities of those Sea Point families in a state of migration and emigration- looking at what happens to those who choose to stay behind or arrive from somewhere else. Also informing the play is the backdrop of urban decay and rejuvenation that is contemporary Sea Point.
“I am delighted to see the full production of London Road come to fruition and am blown away by the stellar team that have come on board!” he says.
Director Lara Bye continues her exploration of the theatre of suggestion. With London Road she brings her trademark attention to detail, intelligent sophistication, unique theatre style and staging to the production. Highly choreographed, passionate performances, a mixture of deep tragedy and dark comedy, a yearning for connection, tenderness and passion are themes which run through her work. A reviewer at the recent KKNK wrote ‘everything Lara Bye touches turns to gold’, and her quietly growing following amongst theatre lovers will be thrilled to participate in her latest production.
On the technical side is the high calibre team of renowned theatre designer, puppeteer and performing artist, Craig Leo, designing set, props and costume, Faheem Bardien creating the lighting design, and original sound from the incomparable Braam Du Toit.
*Visit www.londonroad.co.za or join London Road on Facebook: “London Road” – a play by Nicholas Spagnoletti
London Road will be performed at the Kalk Bay Theatre from Wednesday – Saturday at 20h30 from Thursday 11 March to 10 April 2010, with a reduced-price preview on Wednesday 10 March. Theatre-goers can enjoy a light meal before the show. Doors open at 18h00. Ticket prices for the performance only are R100. For the preview on 10 March, pay R100 for one ticket and get two!
Opening week special! Tickets to the performances on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 March are R65 per ticket. To book contact 073-220 5430 or visit www.kbt.co.za
Production information:
Production: London Road, presented by KBT Productions
Written by: Nicholas Spagnoletti
Directed by: Lara Bye
English language / PG 13 [language] / 60 mins
Venue: Kalk Bay Theatre
Dates: 11 March to 10 April 2010
Cast: Robyn Scott and Ntomboxolo Makhutshi
Set, props and costume design by Craig Leo
Lighting Design by Faheem Bardien
Original Sound by Braam Du Toit
