Cape theatre picks: March 18 2011

Sir Antony Sher is back in South Africa to perform in Arthur Miller 1994 play, Broken Glass.

• Miller explores guilt, personal tragedy and love in the lives of a Jewish couple living in New York in 1938, deeply affected by the horrific anti-Semitic events of Kristallnacht, a coordinated attack launched on Jews throughout Germany on 9 November 1938. Jewish homes, shops and villages throughout Germany and parts of Austria were ransacked. It is regarded by many historians as one of the events that pre-empted the Holocaust. Sher plays Phillip, a man pre-occupied with his job at a Wall Street bank, to the detriment of his relationship with his wife Sylvia (Susan Danford), who unexpectedly becomes paralysed after reading newspaper reports on the events in Germany. The help of Dr. Harry Hyman (Stephen Jennings) is called in, and a relationship between him and Sylvia develops, potentially disastrous for the family. The cast includes Claire Berlein and Anthea Thompson. It is directed by Janice Honeyman.

  From March 22 to April 16 at the Fugard Theatre, Corner of Caledon and Harrington Street, Cape Town. Book at: Tel: 021 461 4554. Website: www.thefugard.com.

• This week sees the premiere of Burnt, a new play by South African playwright Ian Bruce, about a poverty bound community forced to survive by competing with each other for meagre resources and opportunities. Seeza (Mbulelo Grootboom) is an idealistic but demoralised young South African who in spite of his education finds himself still stranded in his shack ­- “hopeless, foodless and tomorrow-less”. Weary of empty promises, abuse, corruption, dead ends and hunger, he decides to announce the dawn of a new revolution. To provide the spark of insurrection he inspires his two most loyal followers, both reforming gangsters, to make an example of one of the foreign ‘colonisers, exploiters and looters’. It is directed by Ina Bruce and the cast includes Mbulelo Grootboom, Andrea Dondolo, Jonathan Nkala, Lungi Pinda, Abongile Kroza, Luvuyo Mabuto and drummer Adaya Aviram. Lighting is by Mannie Manim. Bruce is best known for his play Groundswell.

  From March 18 to April 3 at the New Africa Theatre, 43 Golf Course Road, Sybrand Park. To book: Tel: 021 696 2392. Website: www.newafricatheatre.org

• Follow Spot Productions presents the feel-good comedy, Love at First Fight, a rollercoaster ride through the trials, tribulations and titillations of relationships. Follow Vanessa Harris and husband Ash Searle as they sing, dance, mime and negotiate their way trying to make love work. Director Bradley Searle is known in his own right as a dancer and entertainer. Credits include Footloose the Musical and, with brother Ashley, a country-wide tour in Big Boys Don’t Dance, a two-hander comedy and dance show which won them a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the 2010 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
  
  From March 23 to April 9 at the Kalk Bay Theatre, 52 Main Road, Kalk Bay. Book at: Tel: 073 220 5430. Website: www.kbt.co.za.