Hello there dear friends! It seems like ages since we last chatted and I must thank Eve Carr for a wonderful newsletter last month. It was great reading someone else’s lines for a change. Thanks Eve
Isn’t it fabulous having summer here at last? It is just a pity it always comes with the wind. I have taken to putting the sprinklers on the lawn for awhile before I leave for work and how I wish I had the time to stroll around with the hose and water everything manually. By the time I return home in the afternoon, the wind is HOWLING – one inevitably gets more wet than the ruddy plants!! Still we mustn’t complain I suppose. At least it is glorious in the mornings and it seems to calm down in the late evening.
Enough of this ‘weather’ talk and down to business.
MEMBERS’ EVENING: Monday 1st December 2008
If you haven’t already booked, I am sure there is still time to phone birga Thomas and get your name on the list. There was some confusion with the term dinner-dance. Let me reiterate: It will be a MVDS Birthday Bash/Christmas Members’ Evening, with dinner thrown in and music (Gary’s lovely mix), a chance to meet old friends and reminisce about old times and get excited about new times! There is a dance floor at Fogey’s – so anyone who has the inclination may indulge. However, we have booked the entire place to ourselves for the occasion and it should be a fabulous evening.
We are looking to YOU to provide the entertainment in the form of anecdotes from the Society’s 30 years in existence. Anything you remember from the past, be it funny or sentimental. Please advise birga if you would like to add to the fun.
INTER SOCIETY GOLDEN DUCK QUIZ EVENING: Sunday 16 November 2008
MVDS had two teams for this fun event and a great time was had by all. The ambience was lovely as was the food. The questions were varied and interesting with some real stinkers, but we really didn’t disgrace ourselves!! The ‘good’ news is that the Golden Duck trophy was awarded to Claremont which means that, for the first time in quite a few years, the event will be held at the Masque next year and the long trip to Milnerton will be avoided! Hopefully we will see more of you there when the time comes around.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Tuesday 20 January 2009
You would have by now received the first notice regarding our Annual General Meeting at the Madhouse, Promenade Road, Lakeside 19:30 for 20:00. Any proposed amendments to the constitution must reach birga not later than 8 December. May I appeal to all current TROPHY holders to make an effort to return them timeously – either at our December Members’ Evening/Birthday Bash (December 1st) or drop them off at the Masque.
PAST PRODUCTIONS – ‘HOTEL PARADISO’
This extremely funny farce was a great hit with the audiences and such fun to be involved with. A happy cast and crew (and Director) went a long way to ensuring that the laughter out front was repeated throughout the run backstage! Well done Alaister Duff, cast and crew on a job well done!!!
FUTURE PRODUCTIONS:
“All you need is Love” directed by Celia Musikanth and Coleen van Staden
This very successful show has been revamped with some new and exciting players. Rehearsals are in full swing and judging from what I have heard, promises to be even bigger and better than before. Production opens at the Masque in April.
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS :
27 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER – MASQUE THEATRE
“Beautiful Noise” Music of the late 1960s/early ’70s conceived and directed by Cecil Jakins for Fish Hoek Dramatic Society. A musical trip down memory lane with hits songs from the late 1960s and early ’70s by such artists as the Carpenters, Abba, Paul Simon and the Bee Gees. Fabulous music, fabulous costumes and wonderful singing!
From Thursday 27th November to Saturday 6th December. Normal times and prices.
12 – 13 December – Masque Theatre – Another treat from Grahamstown Festival:
“The Glenn Robertson Band”. Book now for this popular band which provides a veritable jazz smorgasbord for music lovers. Great talent, wonderful choice of numbers and total relaxation is assured. Such all-time favourites as “Ain’t no sunshine”, “I’ve got you under my skin”, “Just the two of us” and very much more are included in the programme.
Friday 20:15, Saturday 16:00 and 20:15 (N.B. different times!!)
Wednesday 17 – Saturday 20 December – Masque Theatre
“For Generations” .(another Grahamstown Festival gem!)
written and performed by Kurt Egelhof directed by Nic Fine
There were standing ovations when Kurt performed in October this year – so make sure you catch his rerun. Kurt shares with his exquisite dramatic story-telling, a hilarious, touching, joyous celebration of defeat and victory, pain and joy (as he performs the defining moments from the life of his war-veteran grandfather) through all four generations till today. Don’t miss it this time (or, even better, see it again.) Week nights 20:15 and Saturday 15:00 and 19:30 (NB different times)
09 – 17 January 2009 – Masque Theatre
Claremont Dramatic Society presents “The Breath of Life” by Sir David Hare directed by Sue Bolton. This play was specifically written for Judy Dench and Maggie Smit and earned rave reviews when it opened on the West End. The story takes place on the Isle of Wight where an ex-mistress is visited by the ex-wife of Martin, a charming lawyer who has left them both to go and live with a young woman in America! The roles are played by two very experienced actresses viz. Yvonne Copley and Sue Cunningham. Special Gala Performance on Saturday 10 January at 18:15 for the Masque Birthday with celebration afterwards Tickets R75 (R65 for Theatre Club members). (See below)
Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 January – Masque Theatre
“It’s a Swing Thing“. Fresh off the stages of the Western Cape’s most elite functions and parties, talented performers Ricky Botsis and Graeme Watkins open at the Masque with their new show “It’s a swing thing”. Old time favourites such as Bobby Darren, Ella Fitzgerald and most notably the infamous Rat Pack are revisited by these young charismatic performers with great numbers including “Me and my Shadow”, “Mack the knife”, “New York New York” and much more.
Week nights 20:15 and Saturday 14:15 and 18:15
NEWS
We were all sad to hear about the passing of John McConnell’s father on the 19th October. Our thoughts are with you, John, during this sad time.
50TH ANNIVERSAY – MASQUE THEATRE
We are coming to the end of the MVDS 30th year but next year it all starts again when the Masque Theatre celebrates its 50th Anniversary on the 10th January next year. This birth date coincides with Claremont’s production of “The Breath of Life” directed by Sue Bolton, which is a pretty apt title, don’t you think? (Details above) Of course the celebration will continue all the year so keep your eyes peeled for further details.
CATA AWARDS – MASQUE THEATRE 9th March 2009
This year the awards will be held closer to home. More details to follow regarding this prestigious event for the Amateur Theatre Oscars!
2008 – A GOOD YEAR FOR MVDS
During the course of 2008, MVDS had three productions all with large casts and crews. In total more than 80 people have been involved in one way or another, on stage, behind stage and up in the sound and lighting box!!! This is an amazing achievement don’t you think? I do believe MVDS can be justifiably proud of themselves. Well done, us!
DAVID MULLER’S VISIT TO CAMEROON
As most of you know, David recently returned from an exciting visit to Cameroon to present his “Snake Magic” at the Festival of the Arts & Theatre or young People & Children in French. Here is an extract of his account of his adventure:
As we drew nearer the road became so bad we offered to get out and walk so that the bottom of the car would be able to pass over the potholes etc. After a few of these kind of stops including getting lost once or twice we came across ‘Summer Time” The sign read SAMARRITAINE. Ah well, that’s French for you.
What a stunning place. A driveway led to what seemed like one of those amazing hotel/lodges one finds in the bushveld only we were in the jungle with large leaved trees soaring hundreds of metres skywards, whose trunks resembled the bottom half of those space shuttles one sees taking off from Cape Canaveral, muscular fins pushing down into the rich red earth. They seemed alive as we stood in awe photographing and hugging them. But this lodge had not been completed. It was as if the builder had run out of money and all construction has ceased. A sort of ruin before its time. Wierd!
Around it, or rather through it, ran a small stream which the builder/architect had incorporated into the building, making little pools in which swam many little fish who nibbled away at the half eaten cassamang; remember those cassamangs? (- anyone know what a casamang is? Cross between a mango and a pawpaw but the size of a small mango but this time the pip has spikes on it so one cannot venture too far with teeth and lips as one sucks and eats casamangs.)At one stage I thought they were those pariahs one finds in the jungle and kept a safe distance from the edge of the water; you know how theatrical imaginations can wander.
We wandered off up a hill following a path which was completed covered over by thick foliage, similar to what you see in the movies. Complete with the buzz of mosquitoes – fortunately my baggage had arrived by this time and we were able to apply our R70 container of mossie wipes – I recommend them for those not willing to take malaria tablets – butterflies, tame nogal for quite a few fluttered up to us some even settling on a shoulder or two; and their markings; here I am sorry I lost my camera. Thank God for there always being a positive for every negative. We were able to breathe to sigh, to understand perhaps.
Of course just when we thought we had done everything Etoundi let us know that we had one more performance on the day we were due to leave, Friday. And in a different venue: the Cameroon Cultural Centre, which turned out to be more run down than the French one. About four lights, seats which were sadly needing repair, backstage, which was occupied by folk who seemed to have no idea that during the run of SNAKE MAGIC, SNAKE MAGIC owned the space and walked around without respect as it were, was almost fully visible from the auditorium. Of course by this time we realised how blessed we were to have theatres like we do in Cape Town and we merely took a deep breath, did some warmup excercises and voila! We regaled our audience and to our delight they were very responsive and seemed to understand every word. We were one of the few who performed in English others like the Koreans, the Swedes, the Swiss, the French all performed in their native languages. Of course being children’s theatre there was much mime and physical theatrics to woo the young audiences who ranged from about three to thirteen.
Thinking back on our trip I ask myself whether I would do it again. Yes of course, without a doubt. The life, the hum, the street vendors the colours, the energy, watching a space being cleared so that a few men can get down on their knees to thank God for being alive amidst the poverty, the corruption, the weather, the seemingly hopelessness of it all; when one realises that every day from eight in the morning to ten in the evening all some folk do is try ad sell the made in China bric a brac so that they can buy something to eat, something to drink something to put a smile on their faces makes SNAKE MAGIC all the more meaningful. Yes, I would return tomorrow especially if I knew that the theatre I was participating in will uplift souls similar to ones we encountered on this trip.
It was wonderful, interesting, exciting, connecting, awful, depressing, stressful, invigorating and educational. South Africa is still the best especially when the shower heads are higher than one’s head. Well most shower heads in SA that is.
What an experience it must have been! Thanks for sharing, David.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
A very Happy Birthday to all our members who celebrate their birthdays this month and December. Hope your day is filled with love and happiness and that the year ahead will be filled with the same!!!!!!!!
October
23 Karen Riley – a belated Happy Birthday
November
9 Sandy Alexander (1920) To our much loved lifetime member Sandy – Happy 88th from all of us!!!
19 Rick Magnin
26 Luke Luies
December
2 Jane De Sousa
17 Melanie Horn
27 Andre Thomas
28 Jane Baard
31 Tracey Cahill
Beverley Webster
AUDITION:
SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER – MILNERTON PLAYHOUSE
Audition for a production of “Special Occasions” by Bernard Slade – Director Yvonne Copley. This is a two-hander (male and female). Time 14:00 at the Playhouse. Production dates 20-28th March 2009. For further details please contact Yvonne (083 441 9937).
NEW MEMBER: to Adrian Chellew. I hope your stay with us is a long and happy one.
A Little Chuckle
A lady goes to the bar on a cruise ship and orders a Scotch with two drops of water. As the bartender gives her the drink she says,
‘I’m on this cruise to celebrate my 80th birthday and it’s today…’
The bartender says, ‘Well, since it’s your birthday, I’ll buy you a drink In fact, this one is on me.’
As the woman finishes her drink, the woman to her right says, ‘I would like to buy you a drink, too.’
The old woman says, ‘Thank you. Bartender, I want a Scotch with two drops of water.’
‘Coming up,’ says the bartender.
As she finishes that drink, the man to her left says, ‘I would like to buy you one, too.’
The old woman says, ‘Thank you. Bartender, I want another Scotch with two drops of water.’
‘Coming ri ght up,’ the bartender says. As he gives her the drink, he says, ‘Ma’am, I’m dying of curiosity. Why the Scotch with only two drops of water?’
The old woman replies, ‘Sonny, when you’re my age, you’ve learned how to hold your liquor. Holding your water, however, is a whole other issue!!’
DATES TO DIARISE:
Audition “Special Occasion” Milnerton Playhouse 30 Nov.
“Beautiful Noise” Masque Theatre 27 Nov-6 Dec.
Birthday Dinner Bash Fogey’s, Muizenberg 1 Dec.
The Glenn Robertson Band Masque 12 & 13 Dec.
“For Generations” Masque 17-20 Dec.
“The Breath of Life” Masque 9 – 17 Jan.
AGM Madhouse 20 Jan.
It’s a Swing Thing” Masque 22-24 Jan.
Well my friends – this will be the last newsletter from me as I am stepping down from the Committee next year. May I say what an absolute pleasure it has been chatting to you all each month for so many years. I am sure we will see each other at the theatre, at our members’ evenings and, of course, at our Birthday Bash on 1 December. May I wish you all a wonderful, peaceful Holiday Season and that the New Year will bring with it, joy, hope and happiness. AND REMEMBER…
May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven
half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
Bye
Val
