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/ 27 December 2010

Cape theatre picks: December 27 to January 6

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  • Pedro Espi-Sanchis, known as “Pedro the Music Man” presents The Lion on the Path. Suitable for children aged four to nine and fun for adults, the show relates three stories from Zimbabwe. The tales include call-and-answer singing, and they showcase the mibra and kalimba. The first story is about a hyena who learns to sing so he can trick his way into the heroine Karizowe’s house. Then there’s the lion who can’t help dancing when he hears kalimba music. Finally there’s the crocodile who gatecrashes a birthday party. The children set the scene for each story, making sound pictures.

    Pedro established the African music programme at UCT and has run extensive teacher-training programmes across Southern Africa and internationally. He writes for leading publishers on music for children.

    On December 18 and 20 to 23 at the Kalk Bay Theatre, 52 Main Road, Kalk Bay. Book at: Tel: 073 220 5430. Website: www.kbt.co.za.

  • The Cape Town City Ballet present their new ballet, Night & Day, a tribute to the evergreen appeal of Cole Porter’s music in dance. Choreographers Robin Van Wyk, Mervyn Williams, Kirsten Isenberg, Paul Johnson and Nigel Lucas have complemented Porter’s sophisticated and whimsical melodies. Porter, a legendary American composer of some of the cleverest, funniest and romantic songs ever written, dominated the musical scene from the 1930s to 50s. The production includes such songs as Let’s Misbehave, Too Darn Hot and Night and Day. Celeste George and Alrico Lieman dance a romantic pas de deux to Let’s do it, let’s fall in love; Lauren Rogers leads the men in the cheeky ensemble number to Miss Otis Regrets. Saxophonist Sarah Elphick accompanies selected numbers, including a solo rendition of In the Still of the Night. It is directed by Robin Van Wyk.

    From December 31 until January 9 in the Opera House, Artscape Theatre Centre, Foreshore. Book at Computicket. Tel: 021 421 7695. Website:www.artscape.co.za

  • Thanks to a warm reception in Cape Town Pieter Toerien productions have extended their all-South African production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita. Based on the larger-than-life persona of Eva Perón, beginning with a young and ambitious Eva it follows her meteoric rise to virtual sainthood. The story tells of the enormous wealth and power she gained and the means by which she became the beloved “Santa Evita”. The lead roles are played by Angela Kilian (Eva), James Borthwick (Peron) and Anton Luitingh (Magaldi).The box-office hit song Don’t Cry for Me Argentina was first released in 1976.

    The theatre is offering a special night to bring in the New Year, with dinner in the Sidedish Theatre Bistro with the cast. The first two courses, including freshly shucked oysters and a Kir Royale, are served before the show, with dessert after the performance.

    Extended until January 15 at Theatre on the Bay. Book at Computicket or Tel: 021 438 3300.