I’m sure I’ve Happy New Year-ed most of you by now so I’m not even going there. My “last” newsletter prompted Lieske Bester to tell me that one of her two favourite endings is Scarlett in Gone with the Wind when she says “Tomorrow is another day…” which is one of those expressions which has fallen into everyday use and that then prompted ME to look for other expressions and where they came from …..
CAPE AMATEUR THEATRE AWARDS EVENING
The “Oscars of AmDram” will be announced at the above event to be held at the Masque on 12 March 2012, assembling at 19:00 for a 19:30 start. Smart dress would be preferable and you can book for the evening by e-mailing Hayley Fargher at masquetheatre@mweb.co.za. The full list of nominations is attached with the nominations for our productions hi-lited. Congratulations to all – nominees are encouraged to book early. Our society is providing the entertainment and thanks go to those involved who are currently hard at work. And receiving an award would, of course, be “a feather in one’s cap” – the placing of a feather in a hat has been a symbol of achievement that has arisen in several cultures, apparently independently, one of which is the Native American tradition of adding a feather to the head-dress of any warrior who performed a brave act.
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
Breakfast Club moves into the theatre on 29 January and help with set-building would be appreciated!! A number of our “newer” members have expressed interest in this aspect and they are encouraged to contact Shelley Lombard, who is stage-manager, on shelbee@iafrica.com or 0832819827, to find out how they can assist.
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Our next production, Season’s Greetings, is in June and an audition notice is attached.
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Claremont Dramatic Society will be holding an audition on 5 February 2012 at 14:00 at their clubhouse, The Hok, in Claremont for the female version of Odd Couple and further info can be obtained from Director Sheldon Cross on 0725968369 or Sheldon_cross@yahoo.com. The production requires 6 women and 2 men, all in the 30+ age range.
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And I sincerely trust that the audition venues will be “packed to the gunwales” – pronounced ‘gunnels’ and often spelled that way – referring in small craft to a piece of timber extending round the top side of the hull. First used as literal references to heavily loaded ships, the non-nautical use of the phrase didn’t come about until the 20th century. A semi-figurative use was made of the phrase in the advertising for the 1944 Dorothy Lamour film, The Fleet’s In: “The Fleet’s In… and it’s loaded to the gunwales with the funniest, friskiest entertainment.” An example of a properly figurative use, i.e. one set on land rather than aboard ship, comes from The New York Magazine, June 1969: “A popular East Side bar, packed to the gunwales with arch young bankers and panicky, pathetic, ersatz Now girls.”
CALENDAR
20 & 21 Jan Soar like an Eagle, presented by Gladys Bullock at the Masque. Based on true life
events, this production showcases the beautiful dancing ability of both able bodied and disabled dancers. It should be seen by all dance lovers in order to appreciate what can be done in the face of adversity.
Sunday Classic Red, Soiree presented by Playbill Productions in the Masque Foyer at 20:00.
22 Jan Tickets at R75 (R65). Four fine voices in close harmony, accompanied by Wilna Viljoen on piano, present a program of opera crossing over to pop with something for everyone.
26 – 29 Jan Cape Town City Ballet will present the final act of one of the most popular ballets of all
times, “Coppelia”. Preceding this will be highlights from the CTCB’s latest creation, “The Italian Affair”. Choreographed by Robin van Wyk, Kirsten Isenberg, Nigel Lucas and Mervyn Williams, the ballet exploits the steamy passion of several well-known Italian lovesongs, woven into a fascinating love affair. Includes the old favourite, “That’s Amore”, which will have feet a-tapping, along with other steamy numbers from this very successful ballet recently performed at Artscape. Also on the programme are highlights from Lichine’s hilarious “Graduation Ball” and MacMillan’s quirky “Solitaire”. There are four shows at the Masque: Thurs 26, Fri 27 and Sat 28 January. Weeknights 8pm, Sat 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets are evenings R75 (R65) and matinee R65 (R55).
10 – 18 Feb The Breakfast Club, a stage adaptation of John Hughes’ iconic 1985 movie, directed by
Feb Raymond Rudolph and presented by Muizenberg Dramatic Society at the Masque. Five young people with nothing in common are forced to spend a day together, in a setting from which they cannot remove themselves. Inevitably verbal, emotional & physical sparring ensues, as the group transforms and new relationships are forged. What will happen to them when the day is over? This ostensibly simple storyline belies the depth of the emotional experience which John Hughes’ well crafted comedy drama has provided to millions of moviegoers and subsequent video-viewers over the past 26 years. The Breakfast Club has remained popular long after most of its contemporary counterparts have faded into obscurity and it still appears in countless “Top 10 best ever movie” lists, even in those created by young people whose parents enjoyed the movie during its initial run! Clearly the underlying themes remain as relevant today as then: stereotyping; teen peer-pressure & isolation; the communication gap between parents & kids and between teachers & students; domestic violence; drugs; romance in unexpected settings; and more. Rated PG13 for strong language and adult content.
Sunday 12 Feb A Time for Love, Soiree presented by Playbill Productions in the Masque Foyer at 20:00.
Tickets at R75 (R65). The outstanding young talents of soprano Maudee Montierre and baritone Thesele Kemane, with Victor Tichart at the piano! Students of Prof Virginia Davids will present a selection of love songs through the ages. A Valentine’s Treat!
23 – 25 Feb Honk! A Musical Comedy presented by Pinelands Players at the Masque with direction
by Kyla Thorburn and musical direction by Justin Wardle. Since it first hatched in 1993 Stiles & Drewe’s musical has winged its way around the world, winning multiple awards. Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling”, “Honk!” tells the story of an odd looking young duck, Ugly, and his quest to find his mom. The audience journey with Ugly on a “Wild Goose Chase” from the Duckyard to a Marshland where we meet all sorts of delightful characters. The principal theme of the show is clearly the acceptance, compassion and understanding of others who may appear different for whatever reason. Honk! is family entertainment that is fun for all ages – as much about people as it is about ducks. Tickets are R80 (R70) and R50 for under 12s.
Please note days, times and prices for Masque Theatre productions (unless otherwise stated) are Thurs & Fri performances at 20:00, Saturday matinee at 14:30, Saturday evening at 18:30
Thurs eve and Sat Matinees R55 (Theatre Club members R45)
Other Nights R65 (Theatre Club members R55)
Bookings on 021 7881898
GETTING TO KNOW YOU!
Wendy Morling helps us to get to know Richard Higgs:
W: When did you first get involved in Amdram and what motivated you?
R: When I was in primary school, my first role was Grumpy in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’. I was eight or nine. It wasn’t so much a question of motivation as just something that I couldn’t imagine myself not doing. After a break from Amdram (and some professional performance art stuff I did as a student) since 2000, my escape from Johannesburg to Cape Town in 2011 brought about the opportunity to get back into Amdram. What motivates me to do it? Passion for theatre and the secret wish that I could do theatre for a living. It was also a way of meeting people in this notoriously unfriendly city.
W: What do you do when not involved in Amdram – real life job/profession?
R: In my real job I am a project manager in the IT department at UCT. My portfolio is Enterprise Content Management, which is also known as “trying to herd cats”. By profession, I’m actually a linguist. Well, that’s what I’m qualified as. However, since there is no such thing as a linguist in the real world of bills to pay and a mouth to feed, I do techie stuff. While not doing that, I am also finishing my Masters Degree in Creative Writing (Poetry) at UCT. In my rare free time I do music (have recently taught myself to play the theremin, and have given a recital), and painting and sculpture.
W: What kind of theatre do you prefer to be involved in? And why?
R: My first love is drama: anything from the classical Greek tragedies to contemporary stuff. The Greeks had the aesthetic of catharsis: by getting intensely emotionally involved in a tragic play, you release your own pent-up issues. I think that’s healthy. For me, theatre should challenge in some way, not just entertain. I enjoy working in comedy, but the challenges of comedy for me are much more about skill than art. Where skill and art are combined is where I really feel at home. In my perfect world I’d be directing opera, giving audiences food for thought with radical interpretations and unexpected, thought-provoking visuals.
W: What is the most embarrassing occasion whilst involved in Amdram?
R: Conducting an orchestra for a musical, happily starting off conducting a cut-time piece in full 4/4 time. We were about 6 bars in before I realised what the raised eyebrows from the musicians were about. Luckily the pianist had not been watching me, and everyone else could catch up with him. In the same show, but another performance, I sent my baton (which was actually a chopstick) flying into the audience at a particularly exciting and dramatic moment. I don’t conduct any more.
W: What animal would you be?
R: If karma has anything to do with it, probably a slug! Seriously, though, I have a particular affinity for manta rays: solitary, independent, gentle giants, with the freedom of the (warm – I hate cold water) seas, flying without having to worry about a fear of heights.
W: What kind of food would we find in your fridge?
R: Anything from truffle oil to the hairy remains of two-week-old boiled cabbage and bully-beef. My fridge is the perfect representation of misdirected Scottish thrift combined with a serious hedonistic pleasure in food.
W: What is the best thing about MADS & its members?
R: Diversity. I have met the most inspiring crowd of people through MVDS, and made some wonderful friends. Everyone is a unique individual, united by a common love for theatre and a commitment to the community. I have a long history in the corporate world, where everybody tries to be the same and it’s every man for himself. I love the mutual respect in Amdram, no matter what your age, your background. The sense of teamwork and dedication is also inspiring: everyone pulls together to make things work on a shoestring.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays come thick and fast in February starting with James Skilton on the first day, Conrad Lihou on the 2nd, Linda Jennings on the 5th, Andrea Boettger on the 6th and Mia Simonow on the 8th. A small gap to Reneé Gowar on the 13th, followed by David Muller and Anthony James who share the 18th. birga Thomas celebrates on the 20th with Erika Mitchell on the 22nd, Sue Hallinan the 23rd and Isabel Byers rounds out the month on the 25th. Ah gee, no 29ers – I could have had a lot of fun with that! I found a little poem about your birthstone:
“The February born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they, the amethyst will wear.”
So “many happy returns” to you all – Since the 18th century this has been used as a salutation to offer the hope that a happy day being marked would recur many more times. It is now primarily used on birthdays but prior to the mid 19th century it was used more generally, at any celebratory or festive event.
A G M
As you are by now very much aware, our Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 25 January 2012, 19:30 for 20:00, at the Rendezvous (Old Zandvlei Bowling Club), 57 Promenade Road, Muizenberg. Snacks and the usual small cash bar will be provided. If you haven’t already done so please RSVP to birga Thomas on 021 7885272 or email birgatom@iafrica.com NOW. Please refer to the Agenda sent to you recently which contains the names of the folk eligible for the members’ choice awards, on which you will be requested to vote. Paul Giffiths will also be announcing the winners of various MVDS’ awards….. remember, if you are a member of our society and you were involved in one of our productions (in ANY capacity), you stand a chance of winning an award so PLEASE make the effort to attend! One of the most important functions of the AGM is to elect a committee for this year – some of the current committee are prepared to stand again but it would be wonderful to have a broader representation of our membership so those who haven’t been on the committee for a “while” and those who think they would like to try it – volunteer on the night!! Or contact any of the committee members to find out what is involved (really, it is not as onerous as you think!)
SUBS
After a hundred years at the old price (ok, SMALL exaggeration there!) it has been decided to increase the subs BUT if you pay before or at the AGM – you will still get the old rate!!! So that means singles pay R40, couples R60 and Pensioners/Students R25. If you pay AFTER the AGM this will be R50, R70 and R30 respectively.
Well, I think it is time I said goodbye and let somebody else get “A word in edgeways” – a 19th century expression which was coined in the UK.
An early (1821) example in print is from the one-act play Twelve precisely! or, A night at Dover. The names of the lead characters, Amelia Wildlove and Sir Ferdinand Frisky, give a sense of the nature of the play – Sir F. (Aside.) “Curse me, if I can get a word in edgeways!”
Eve
MUIZENBERG DRAMATIC SOCIETY
AUDITION NOTICE
‘SEASON’S GREETINGS’
BY ALAN AYCKBOURN
Directed By: Coleen Van Staden
AUDITION DATE: Saturday 11TH February 2012 at 14:30
PLACE: Rendezvous (Old Zandvlei Bowling Club), 57 Promenade Road, Muizenberg
CALLBACKS: Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 19:30
ENQUIRIES: Coleen Van Staden on coleenvs@vodamail.co.za or telephone 0721205645
DATES OF RUN: 1 to 9 June 2012 – Masque Theatre, Muizenberg
REHEARSALS: Start Monday 5 March 2012
PLEASE NOTE: Auditionees must prepare for the audition with prescribed readings which may be obtained from Coleen (as above). Female auditionees are encouraged to audition for a first and second preference role.
SYNOPSIS: The play is set in England and needs a talented cast of ensemble players who can bring out all the element of this Ayckbourn gem – farce, situation comedy and black humour– while manhandling mechanical toys, puppets, legs of lamb, a huge Xmas tree and on the odd occasion, each other! In the words of Ayckbourn : “Christmas is about log fires, Christmas trees, excited children’s faces, candle-light, the holly and the mistletoe. The Bunkers’ home has all these. It’s comfy and cosy and it swarms with children. Not the smaller, shorter variety though but the taller, older ones – currently going through the ‘awkward’ age, the twenty-five to seventy year olds. They’re all there. Fighting over their toys, clamouring for attention, bullying, sneaking and crying, then kissing and making up and generally getting far too overexcited, as they always do every year at Christmas. Season’s Greetings is a play about love and how unfair it all is. And success and failure. And jealousy and self-deception. And greed and envy and lust and gluttony. Just your average family Christmas.”
THE CAST (Ages are fairly flexible):
Belinda 30-45 Frustrated and uptight. An efficient but distracted hostess. Wants, but does not get, her husband’s attention and reassurance. A sudden infatuation presents a possible escape from her indifferent husband.
Neville 35-45 Belinda’s husband. Easy going and affable. Always busy fiddling with anything mechanical. Self absorbed and unaware of what goes on around him.
Bernard 40-60 a feeble-spirited doctor, obsessed with his dismal puppet show that is a complete failure every Xmas. Married to Phyllis.
Phyllis 35-50 Bernard’s lush of a wife and Neville’s sister – always tipsy, accident prone, flirty
Eddie 30-40 Friend and ex employee of Neville’s – not in the same league although aspires to be. Generally passive but underlying aggression. Immature.
Pattie 25–35 Eddie’s pregnant wife, largely ignored by him and rather hard done by. A bit of a nag.
Rachel 25–45 Belinda’s emotionally “challenged” sister – in love with Clive but is extremely insecure & unfulfilled in the love department.
Clive 30-40 writer, in a “tentative” relationship with Rachel –finds he is attracted to Belinda. Pleasant, attractive and single.
Harvey 50-70 30 years in the security “game” and obsessed with violence. Slightly senile. Nasty streak. Enjoys putting Bernard down.
CATA NOMINEE LIST FOR 2011
Artistic Contribution
Dolores Spijkers – Romeo and Juliet (Carnivals of the Heart)
Gillian Charman-Black/June Edwards/Cecil Jakins/Robyn Wainwright – The Crucible (MVDS)
Kerry-Lee Knott-Craig – Godspell (Pinelands)
Wendy Goddard – Chapter Two (Milnerton)
Roxy Levy – Fiddler on the Roof (G & S)
Sue Bolton – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Kyla Thorburn – Honk (Pinelands)
June Wells – Honk (Pinelands)
Technical Excellence
Gary Fargher – Macbeth (Claremont)
Shelley Lombard and Anna Dennis – Come Back Little Sheba (Constantiaberg)
Kyla Thorburn – Honk (Pinelands)
Best Set
Vivienne Gray – Brief Lives (Claremont)
Wendy Goddard – Chapter Two (Milnerton)
Debbie Bentley-Buckle and Barrie Howard – Come Back Little Sheba (Constantiaberg)
Dawn Innes –People Are Living There (Carnivals of the Heart)
Debbie Bentley-Buckle and Barrie Howard- Steel Magnolias (Constantiaberg)
Margi Blewett – August: Osage County (MVDS)
David Davidson – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Kyla Thorburn – Honk (Pinelands)
Cameo Performance
Bryoni Currin – Romeo and Juliet (Carnivals of the Heart)
Alric D Frost – Come Back Little Sheba (Constantiaberg)
Nigel Sweet – Macbeth (Claremont)
Darren Telford – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Ruth Allsopp – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Most promising Newcomer
Anton Schäfer – Chapter Two (Milnerton)
Tarryn Sessions – Come Back Little Sheba (Constantiaberg)
John Bradley-Koopman – People Are Living There (Carnivals of the Heart)
Nikita Claire McShane – August: Osage County (MVDS)
Lynwen Kirby Roman – August: Osage County (MVDS)
Tayla van Blerck – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Roche Haupt-Buckle – Godspell (Pinelands)
Kerry-Lee Knott-Craig – Godspell (Pinelands)
Darik Vélez – Godspell (Pinelands)
John Lambrou – Forever Plaid (Pinelands)
Best Supporting Actress in a Play or Musical
Lisa Squire Harris – Romeo and Juliet (Carnivals of the Heart)
Isabel Byers – The Crucible (MVDS)
Su Cunningham – The Crucible (MVDS)
Sindiwe Magona – The Crucible (MVDS)
Jana Botha – The Doubting (Carnivals of the Heart)
Petra Schiebe – The Sum of Us (Milnerton)
Pam Burger – Steel Magnolias (Constantiaberg)
Felicity Purdon – Hay Fever (Fish Hoek)
Jane de Sousa – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Jennifer Moss – Godspell (Pinelands)
Phoebe Snayer – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Ami-Rose Barber – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Claire Simonis – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Kate Olmesdahl – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Jennifer Moss – Honk (Pinelands)
Lesley Gill – Honk (Pinelands)
Laura Bosman – Honk (Pinelands)
Best Supporting Actor in a Play or Musical
Richard Higgs – The Crucible (MVDS)
Neil Slater – People are Living There (Carnivals of the Heart)
Mike Tompson – Macbeth (Claremont)
Anton Schäfer – The Sum of Us (Milnerton)
Richard Higgs – Hay Fever (Fish Hoek)
Patrick Jordi – August: Osage County (MVDS)
Clifford Graham –August: Osage County (MVDS)
James Skilton – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Byron Bure – Godspell (Pinelands)
Gary Kiewitz – Godspell (Pinelands)
John Carne – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Daniel Fisher – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Andrew Weiss – Honk (Pinelands)
Best Actress in a Play or Musical
Gizelle Willows – Romeo and Juliet (Carnivals of the Heart)
Tamara Richards – The Crucible (MVDS)
Angela Lee-Wright – The Crucible (MVDS)
Pamela Burger – Come Back Little Sheba (Constantiaberg)
Lisa Squire Harris – People are Living There (Carnivals of the Heart)
Carey Wallace – Steel Magnolias (Constantiaberg)
Michele Belknap – August: Osage County (MVDS)
Allison Blair – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Sheila Inglis – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Julie Dickson – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Michelle Galloway – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Natisha van Zyl – Forbidden Broadway (Milnerton)
Chloe Kiley – Forbidden Broadway (Milnerton)
Bonny White – Honk (Pinelands)
Best Actor in a Play or Musical
Matt Browne – Romeo and Juliet (Carnivals of the Heart)
Dean Howarth – The Crucible (MVDS)
Bruce Sanderson – Chapter Two (Milnerton)
Dennis Benneyworth – Come Back Little Sheba (Constantiaberg)
James King – National Madness (Milnerton)
Gregory Parvess – The Sum of Us (Milnerton)
Anthony Storr Lister – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Darik Vélez – Godspell (Pinelands)
Richard White – Forever Plaid (Pinelands)
David Bolton – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Shaun Browne – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Sven-Eric Müller – Forbidden Broadway (Milnerton)
Christopher Thomas – Honk (Pinelands)
Richard White – Honk (Pinelands)
Best Play, Best Musical, Most adventurous Production, Best Director of a Play/Musical
Darryl Spijkers – Romeo and Juliet (Carnivals of the Heart)
Barrie Howard – Come Back Little Sheba (Constantiaberg)
Darryl Spijkers – People Are Living There (Carnivals of the Heart)
Angela Lee-Wright – Steel Magnolias (Constantiaberg)
birga Thomas – August: Osage County (MVDS)
Sue Bolton – Separate Tables (Claremont)
Roche Haupt-Buckle – Godspell (Pinelands)
June Wells – Forever Plaid (Pinelands)
Teddy Davies – Fiddler on the Roof (G&S)
Kyla Thorburn – Honk (Pinelands)
