FEBRUARY 2012
Thanks for welcoming me back as the writer of this newsletter for another year!
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Since it doesn’t happen that often I thought we could take a look at the whole leap year phenomenon this month.
The following rules decide which years are leap years:
Every year divisible by 4 is a leap year;
But every year divisible by 100 is not a leap year;
Unless the year is also divisible by 400, then it is still a leap year.
This means that years 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 are not leap years
while year 2000 and 2400 are leap years.
CAPE AMATEUR THEATRE AWARDS EVENING
At the Masque on 12 March 2012, assembling at 19:00 for a 19:30 start.
We will be supporting our nominees AND providing the entertainment!
Smart dress would be preferable.
EXCITING NEWS!
CON-GRAT-U-LA-TIONS AND CEL-E-BRA-TIONS!!
We now officially have a website!
A HUGE vote of thanks to Angela Lee-Wright for taking the time and trouble to set this up.
Go check it out at http://www.mvds.co.za!
Now all that remains is for me to figure out how to put THIS missive on THAT site!
OK, you’ve all heard this one …
Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage.
But do you know where it came from?
It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained
to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose.
According to legend, St. Patrick said the yearning females could propose
on this one day (the 29th) in February during the leap year.
WELCOME!!
Two ladies who have been around the AmDram scene for a while but who have now “officially” joined our society are Shelley Lombard and Rosemarie Lewis and we extend a hearty welcome to both.
AUDITION
Pinelands Players is holding an audition for Shout by Phillip George & David Lowenstein on 3 and 4 March 2012 at their Clubhouse in Pinelands. This production will be directed by Garth Tavares in July 2012 and calls for five females aged 18 and older with good singing voices. More info can be obtained from Tina Gough on Bgough@telkomsa.net.
February 29th is crucial to the plot of Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance: As a child, Frederic was apprenticed to a band of pirates until the age of 21.Having passed his 21st year, he leaves the pirate band and falls in love. However, it turns out that the pirate indenture says that his apprenticeship does not end until his 21st birthday, and since he was born on February 29, that day will not arrive until he is in his eighties.
As such, he must leave his fiancée and return to the pirates. It takes a typical Gilbertian contrivance to sort out the confusion and bring things to a happy ending.
CALENDAR
10 – 18 Feb The Breakfast Club, a stage adaptation of John Hughes’ iconic 1985 movie, directed by
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 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.
09 – 17 March Marvin’s Room by Scott McPherson, directed by Brenda Gray and presented by
Claremont Dramatic Society at the Masque. Winner of the 1992 Outer Critics Circle award for best play, the 1992 Drama Desk award for best play and the Joseph Jefferson award for best original work, this award-winning Off Broadway comedy was described by the New York Times as “… one of the funniest plays of the year as well as one of the wisest and most moving”..When two estranged sisters and their dependents find themselves together under one roof due to the diagnosis of a terminal illness, the themes of love, duty, care and service are explored with humour and candour, resulting in a play of considerable emotional resonance.
Sunday 18 March Beautiful Night Music, Soiree presented by Playbill Productions in the Masque Foyer at
20:00. Tickets R75 (R65). A show of star quality featuring the lovely voices of Julie Harris and Selim Kagee. Julie will charm, with songs from the Sondheim musicals including Send in the Clowns. Selim will entertain with romantic favourites including Granada, Mi Mancherai the theme from the movie Il Postino and Cry for Love, the title song of his new CD. Ivan Meredith will accompany them on piano.
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
There is a Greek superstition that claims couples have bad luck if they marry during a leap year.
Apparently one in five engaged couples in Greece will avoid planning their wedding during a leap year.
BIRTHDAYS
It certainly seems to be “Ladies Month” in March!
I don’t have one man on my birthday list! Am I missing someone?
Barbara Bassett starts us off on the 2nd when, in 1972, the first man-made object to leave our Solar System, Pioneer 10, was launched. The 10th sees Coleen van Staden turning a year older. On that date in 2008 the New York Times revealed that the Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, had patronized a prostitution service! Val Stephens celebrates on the 11th when, in 2006, Michelle Bachelet was inaugurated as the first female president of Chile. Then Liz D’Alton and Michele Belknap share the 15th. On that date in 1985 the first Internet domain name (symbolics.com) was registered and in 1990 Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as the first President of the Soviet Union. Dawn Scholtz has her birthday on the 22nd: In 1998 the 18th Golden Raspberry Awards were held on that date : these recognize the worst the movie industry had to offer in the previous year. The film that “won” the most awards was The Postman, winning in all five categories the movie was nominated for, including worst picture, worst screenplay and worst original song!
And since they are all women, here’s an easy question:
What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?
Yes, of course: they were all invented by women!
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the only verified example of a family producing three consecutive generations born on February 29 is that of the Keogh family:
Peter Anthony was born in Ireland on February 29, 1940,
while his son Peter Eric was born on the Leap Day in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1964.
His daughter, Bethany Wealth, was, in turn, born in the UK on February 29, 1996.
A G M
Our AGM was very well supported – thanks to all those who came and thanks to Paul Griffiths for his insightful comments. A full list of awards (including some of Paul’s comments) are attached. Congratulations to all award winners!
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You will see the changes to the committee in the teensy weensy writing at the bottom of this newsletter – goodbye to those who are no longer serving and a big welcome to the newbies!
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Robin Rattle, long-time MVDS’ member, decided with great sadness and reluctance not to renew his membership due to his rapidly declining eyesight. All at the AGM wished him well, and MVDS honoured him with Life Membership.
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The AGM was the last chance to pay Subs at the “old” prices and a number of people took advantage of this. Which brings me nicely to . . . . .
SUBS
Right, these are now (over)due and you may pay any member of the committee at any time. Payment may also be made by cheque or by electronic transfer/deposit to Muizenberg Dramatic Society, Standard Bank, Blue Route, Tokai (code 025 609), Current account 270 044 949 (using your surname as reference) or leave your payment in the Masque office, clearly marked “birga Thomas, MVDS subs”. Our subs are now R50 for a single person, R70 for a couple and Pensioners/Students pay R30.
Ending off with a final “leap”:
The only notable person known to have been born and die on February 29 was Sir James Wilson (1812–1880), Premier of Tasmania.
Eve
Our Committee:
2011 AWARDS
Merit Awards went to DEAN HOWARTH (The Crucible), ANGELA LEE-WRIGHT (The Crucible), NIKITA CLAIRE MCSHANE (August: Osage County), Tara-Lee Essack (… Farndale …) and SU CUNNINGHAM (August: Osage County).
Best Set to MARGI BLEWETT AND SET-BUILDING TEAM (August: Osage County).
Best Effects to The Haunted Through-Lounge and Recessed Dining Nook at Farndale Castle.
Best Newcomer to “A young woman who played an incredibly moving role, although she didn’t say a word”: LYNWEN ROMAN (August: Osage County).
WENDY GODDARD (August: Osage County) received the award for Best Supporting Actress.
MICHELE BELKNAP (August: Osage County) was voted Best Actress: “The person who played this role was very vulnerable in a moment.”
“I somewhat blurred the lines between supporting actors and best actors.” So there was no award for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor was shared by PATRICK JORDI and CLIFFORD GRAHAM (August: Osage County).
August: Osage County received the award for Best Production and its Director, BIRGA THOMAS, won the Best Director award: “When ideas are subtle then the director needs incredible sensitivity”.
The “Mad Oscar”, awarded by the committee from nominations by all directors, went to GILL CHARMAN-BLACK (The Crucible).
Members’ Choice awards went to August: Osage County for Best Production, MICHELE BELKNAP received the award for Best Actress and Best Actor was shared by DEAN HOWARTH and PATRICK JORDI.
Ok, just filling up this page with an extremely complicated bit of trivia:
The Swedish Empire (which included Finland at the time) planned to change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar beginning in 1700 by omitting leap days for the next 40 years. Although the leap day was omitted in February 1700, the Great Northern War began later that year, diverting the attention of the Swedes from their calendar so they did not omit leap days on the next two occasions, causing 1704 and 1708
to remain leap years. To avoid confusion and further mistakes, the Julian calendar was restored when, in 1712, one extra leap day was added, thus giving that year a 30th of February. That date corresponded to
February 29 in the Julian calendar and to March 11 in the Gregorian calendar. The Swedish changeover to the Gregorian calendar was finally accomplished in 1753 by omitting the last 11 days of February.
Claremont Dramatic Society 