Stravinsky’s wacky neoclassical masterpiece, The Rake’s Progress features alongside comedy from Alan Committie and Rob van Vuuren.
? UCT Opera School, in collaboration with Cape Town Opera, presents one of the most performed operas written since World War II, Stravinsky’s wacky neoclassical masterpiece, The Rake’s Progress, which tracks a young rake’s entertaining fall from grace with Mozartian wit and brilliance. Director Matthew Wild gives the work a belated African premiere in this co-production, which reunites key members of the creative team behind 2010’s colourful and extremely well-received production of Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims.
Under the spirited baton of Kamal Khan, this imaginative new production will feature a witty mash-up of 18th-century and contemporary imagery, with choreography by Sean Bovim, sets by Tina Driedijk, costumes by Maritha Visagie and lighting design by Kobus Rossouw.
From August 30 to September 3 at the Main Theatre, Baxter Theatre Centre, Rondebosch. Book at Computicket. Tel: 021 685 7880. Website: www.baxter.co.za.
? Tim Plewman did it for years. Now Alan Committie is back for the umpteenth time in this record-breaking “date show”, Defending the Caveman, which tackles the eternal, baffling and seemingly insurmountable differences between men and women while also exploring some similarities. Committie is well known for his many self-penned one-man, shows such as TV or Not TV, Titanic on Ice! and Return to Send Up and brings his own particularly entertaining personality when defending the sometimes primitive behaviour of the modern-day caveman. The direction is by Tim Plewman from the original direction of Rex Garner.
Until September 10 at the Theatre on the Bay, 1A Link Street, Camps Bay. Book at Computicket. Tel: 021 438 3301. Website: www.theatreonthebay.co.za.
? Rob van Vuuren Live is the latest stand-up comedy written and performed by the inimitable Rob van Vuuren, who shot to fame on television as the short half of cult comedy duo Corné and Twakkie of The Most Amazing Show. This time, he delivers an irreverent, honest and, above all, funny perspective on his favourite subjects, ranging from dogs, flies and Jehovah’s Witnesses to becoming a dad, adoption and mutant toenails.
On August 25, 26 and 27 at On Broadway, 44 Long Street, Cape Town. Tel: 021 424 1194. Website: www.onbroadway.co.za.