theatre
Matthew Krouse
African Bank Market Theatre, Newtown Cultural Precinct. Celebrity director Mbongeni Ngema revives his Eighties masterpiece and Tony Award-nominee Asinamali! The cast combines new and original cast members, including Thami Cele, Bongani Hlope, Bheki Mqadi, Bhoyi Ngema and Ntusi Gordon. Until May 5. Book at Computicket. Tel: 832 1641.
Barney Simon Theatre, African Bank Market Theatre, Newtown Cultural Precinct. Jo’burg’s most promising young director, Mncedisi Shabangu, has conceived Vuka Machel, about the idle lives of two unemployed chicken thieves. With Xolile Gama and Vusimuzi Nyathikazi. Until May 19. See Theatre Pick of the Week. Book at Computicket. Tel: 832 1641.
Centurion Theatre, 123 Amkor Road, Lyttleton. On May 3 and 4 blonde bombshell, firebrand and TV host Steve Hofmeyr performs Engele om Ons. On May 7 see Alexa Strachan and Theuns Jordaan in Die Persheks. Book at Computicket. More info: Tel: (012) 664 7859.
Colosseum Showbar, Caesars Gauteng. Flashback offers a chance to remember a host of Eighties hits. Devised by Amber Baty and Billy Hogg, with a female dance cast including Ursula Hogg, Alison Pucci and Nadia Hoosain. Wednesday to Saturday at 9.30pm. Tel: 928 1297.
Globe Theatre, Gold Reef City Casino. African Footprint, the song-and-dance spectacular that has enthralled princes and presidents, has been extended until June 23. Shows from Tuesday to Friday at 8pm, on Saturdays at 6pm and 9pm and on Sundays at 3pm. Book at Computicket. Tel: 248 5168.
Laager Theatre, African Bank Market Theatre, Newtown Cultural Precinct. Ivan D Lucas appears in his own production of The Strondloper, a one-man comedy show about “identity and roots, the economics and culture of power, the distance between haves and have-nots”. Until May 19. Book at Computicket. Tel: 832 1641.
Liberty Theatre on the Square, Sandton Square. Heavyweight (in presence) stage actress Jana Cilliers appears in play@risk alongside a talented cast of Aubrey Poo, Jose Domingos and Wikus du Toit, directed by Megan Wilson and with musical direction by Saranti Reeders. It’s an offbeat look at the tough times of the theatre industry. Until May 11. From May 14 Fiona Ramsay and Michael Richards appear in Steven Berkoff’s legendary sex poem Decadence. Book at Computicket. Tel: 883 8606.
Mardi Gras Theatre, Carnival City Casino, Elsburg Road, Brakpan. Sex Bombs has been extended until May 4. Tanya van Rie directs Helen Debois, Johan Swart and Julie Louise in a revved-up tribute to deities like Madonna, Whitney Houston and Tom Jones. Book at Computicket. Tel: 898 7000.
Nelson Mandela Theatre, Civic Theatre complex, Braamfontein. Until May 5 see South African Ballet Theatre’s La Sylphide, produced by Bournville style expert Peter Bo Bendixen of Denmark. With Timothy le Roux’s The Time It Takes to Do This as a curtain-raiser. From May 7 to 10 see Parktown College students in Livitup!, a new musical about a rural girl’s tough life in the city. Book at Computicket. Tel: 403 3408.
Off Broadway Cabaret Theatre, 59 Grant Avenue, Norwood. Fabulously Copacabana draws on the craze for all things Latin. Yet another retro show, but this one incorporates numbers like La Bamba and, no doubt, the babes will wear fruit on their heads. Half price on Sundays. Book at Computicket. Tel: 403 1563.
Opera, Spoornet State Theatre complex, Pretoria. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats is “a ravishing blend of spectacle and sentiment, enlivened by Eliot’s droll, mischievous and brain-teasing lyrics”. Guy Willoughby. With Juanita Yazbeck, Paul Warwick-Griffin and Taryn Sudding. The run has been extended to June 22. Block bookings can be made for more than 40 people. Book at Computicket. Tel: (012) 322 1665.
Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, William Nicol Drive, Fourways. South Africa just cannot get enough of Tim Plewman doing Rob Becker’s Defending the Caveman. The venue has stopped advertising his returns “positively the last”, but how much longer can this go on? Until May 12. Book at Computicket. Tel: 511 1818.
Playtime, Newtown Cultural Precinct. This multidisciplinary festival goes on until May 5 and includes free poetry sessions, video art, feature films and reasonably priced party evenings. An initiative of the French Institute of South Africa and the Johannesburg Development Agency. For a full programme see www.mg.co.za. Tel: 836 0561.
Sangita Barnyard Theatre, Ring Road West, Alberton. Rock Me Amadeus is produced by Chuck Chowles and directed by Charmaine Weir, who last enthralled with Annie: The Musical. Keiran Rennie, Shelley McLean and Granville Michaels do rocked-up classics Bach meets the Beatles. Until December. Book at Computicket. Tel: 869 2666.
Sibikwa Community Theatre, Liverpool Road, Benoni. Trash Truck is an outreach project that travels to schools. Directed by Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz it educates communities in effective management of waste and pollution. Performances happen on a flatbed truck. Available to your school or community until June 23. Tel: 422 4359.
Sound Stage Supper Theatre, Midrand. One of the city’s most revived nostalgia fests, the all-new Girl Talk, rides again with a cast of nine and multimedia video effects. Decades of divas and girl groups rise again relive the Andrews Sisters, the Supremes and Celine Dion. Book at Computicket. Tel: 315 5084.
Tesson Theatre, Civic Theatre complex, Braamfontein. Bill Flynn and Paul Slabolepszy return with Running Riot, the very funny rehash of the “okes” we met in Heel against the Head. This clowning duo have become local staples – this time Crispin and Tjokkie take on the Comrades marathon. Flynn is especially good. Until June 23. Shows from Tuesday to Saturday. Book at Computicket. Tel: 403 3408.
Windybrow Centre for the Arts, Nugget Street, Hillbrow. Blue Monk, about jazz giant Thelonius Monk, is written by Robert Earl Price and directed by Del Hamilton with a local cast. “The play questions the image of Monk as mad … restores the meaningfulness and beauty of his genius.” Meshack Mabogoane. Until May 4. Book at Computicket. Tel: 720 7009.
Wits Amphitheatre, Jorrisen Street, Braamfontein. Kgafela oa Magogodi, the streetwise poet who published Thy Condom Come, directs Itchy City, a slam/rap/dub performance about a new breed of verse-mongers who prowl the streets of Jozi reflecting on everything they see. Until May 11. Book at Computicket. Tel: 717 1376.
Wits Downstairs Theatre, Jorrisen Street, Braamfontein. University masters’ candidate Ingrid Wylde directs the Chekov classic Three Sisters with a cast of students and professionals including Camilla Waldman, Amanda lane , Dimitri Cassar and Andre Stoltz. Until May 11. Book at Computicket. Tel: 717 1376.
Theatre pick of the week
Vuka Machel
Barney Simon Theatre,African Bank Market Theatre
Until May 19
Vuka Machel shows an interesting break from the type of theatre that arose to address the political challenges of the Eighties (such as Asinamali!).The fact that Vuka Machel and Asinamali! are running at the Market Theatre provides a fascinating study in contrast.
Of course there are politics in both works. But what is refreshing in Vuka Machel is that the political arena is an object of skits or satire. Even political heavyweights are treated irreverently. There is former president Nelson Mandela and former Mozambican leader Samora Machel squaring up for Graca in a fist fight. There is a parody on political leaders who promise to deliver but do not live up to it.
It is not just the political scene that comes under the hilarious treatment of Mncedisi Shabangu, the playwright and director. The varied lives of the people of Kwanyamazane receive satirical treatment and are made light of.
Much of the dialogue is in Siswati, with a sprinkling of the kind of English that finds itself at home in the multicultural milieu of black folk. In this way the heartiness and moods that are being conveyed come through most vividly.
The form is a revival of the sketches that abounded in township theatre.
Plot, character and structure were less important. What mattered was that the stage would be an arena for depicting a variety of characters and scenes in a society.
So, burlesque and skits produced a humorous kaleidoscope of social life and human idiosyncrasies.
Xolile Gama and Vusumuzi Nyathikazi do a superb job in conjuring up the underlying realities or imagined situations with gusto, authenticity and panache. The acting is done with precision in the midst of a loose script.
But for now it is worth seeing what talent, skill and commitment can produce. And Vuka Machel also gives a glimpse of the potential for satire that is so needed as an antidote to the pretentiousness and the taking-things-for-granted atmosphere that seems to pervade and characterise the politics of our time.
If works like Asinamali! jerked us into a resistance mode, Vuka Machel could well inaugurate a phase of laughing at and being critical of much of the sham that is going on. Meshack Mabogoane