OCTOBER 2012
Quite often people send me little “bits” for the newsletter and I am very good at keeping the “bits” but often forget to note who supplied them! So my thanks and apologies to WHOEVER sent this interesting (but nothing-to-do-with-drama) bit:
Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled ‘Gentlemen Only… Ladies Forbidden’…. and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.
BIRTHDAYS
LOTS of birthdays in October! Starting with Angela Lee-Wright on the third – who is turning 30 this year! Followed the next day by me (who is definitely NOT turning 30!). Brenda Commins celebrates on the 10th followed by Peter Sharp on the 13th and Gillian Charman on the 14th. John Hitchcock and Halo Malherbe share the 15th with Richard Higgs on the 22nd and Karen Riley on the 23rd. Jana Botha rounds out the month on the 25th.
CAROL SINGING
If you love to sing ……………..Participate in Carols 2012!
The first choir practice will be held on Monday, 29 October 2012, at 18h00 in Stellenbosch, whereafter days and times that suit everybody will be decided. The end of year program is:
REHEARSAL on Thursday 13 December 18.00 – 20.00 Choir at Cathedral;
REHEARSAL on Sunday 16 December 15.00 – 18.00 Choir and orchestra at Cathedral;
CONCERT on Sunday 16 December 19.00 at Cathedral;
REHEARSAL on Saturday, 22 December 17.00 – 18.00 Choir and orchestra at Oude Libertas;
CONCERT on Saturday, 22 December 19.00 (OR 19.30 To Be Confirmed);
CONCERT on Sunday 23 December 19.00 (OR 19.30 TBC).
Contact Hennie Van Der Merwe on 021 8711778, 0825629205 or hennie@inkjet.co.za who says if there are people who want to join for the first time, if they can sing in tune and can make all the rehearsals, they are more than welcome.
NEXT PRODUCTION
By the time you receive this newsletter our production of Blithe Spirit will have moved into the theatre and all will be hard at work fine-tuning it! If you have some time to help with completing/painting the set please contact Tom Byrne, 021–782 6595 or 071 871 0451 or tom1949sa@gmail.com.
CALENDAR
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 or at the theatre Mon-Fri, 10:00 to 16:00 (During shows also 9:30 to 12:00 on Saturdays) or bookings@masquetheatre.co.za
3 – 12 Oct Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley directed by Kelly Westraad for Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society at the Playhouse Theatre, Somerset West. At the core of this tragic comedy are the three Magrath sisters who reunite at Old Granddaddy’s home and are forced to face the consequences of the “crimes of the heart” they have committed.
Prices R50 (members), R55 (pensioners) and R65. Bookings through Computicket. Contact Halima at 0845550656 for further information.
12 – 20 Oct Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward, directed by Barbara Basel & presented by Muizenberg Oct Dramatic Society at the Masque. Charles Condomine, a successful novelist, wishes to learn about the occult for a novel he is writing, and arranges for an eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to hold a séance at his house. At the séance, she inadvertently
summons Charles’ first wife, Elvira, who has been dead for seven years. Only Charles can see and hear Elvira, and his second wife, Ruth, does not believe that Elvira exists until a floating vase is handed to her out of thin air. The ghostly Elvira makes continued, and increasingly desperate, efforts to disrupt Charles’s current marriage. Ruth on the other hand, is equally desperate to get rid of Elvira and is horrified to learn from Madame Arcati that, while she is able to summon people from the ‘other world’, she has no idea how to send them back again!! There is a twist at the end of this ‘tale’ when the actual, and unlikely, summoner of ‘spirits’ is revealed. This unusual and amusing ‘ghost’ story is played out in Coward’s usual elegant and witty style.
Sunday Swinging Strings, Soiree presented by Playbill Productions in the Foyer at 20h00. The 14 Oct programme features the accomplished String Quartet of Jens Eggers (violin), Cherith Bain (violin), Imogen Buchanan (viola) and Loren Bowen (cello). They will swing you into the mood with Ragtime, Jazz, Tango, Latin, Scott Joplin and much more. An evening of first class entertainment! R75 (R65).
25 – 27 Oct Ray of Hope presented by the Kingdom Dancers at the Masque. This Christian based October modern dance school hosts their second dance production which is a mixture of modern, lyrical, hip hop and contemporary styles with each dance telling a story or sending a message of a hope that refuses to give up and never disappoints. Come and watch
these dancers dance from the heart as they touch your heart. You won’t be disappointed.
Thu. 25 and Fri 26 at 19:00, Sat. 27 at 14:00 and 18:00. Tickets: R50. Bookings: Cathy Bradley on 082 823 9093
9 – 24 Nov Calendar Girls directed by Wendy Goddard and presented by Claremont Dramatic Society at the Masque Theatre for the very first time in South Africa. Written by British playwright, Tim Firth, Calendar Girls tells the true story of an ordinary group of Yorkshire women doing something extraordinary and sparking a global phenomenon when they persuade one another to pose for a chari ty calendar with a di fference – they’re nude…They pose d to raise funds for a c ouch in the local hospital and to date they have raised over 3 million pounds for Leukaemia Research in the UK! Their story led to the making of the 2003 hit movie Calendar Girls and a stage version in 2008. It is the most successful play ever to tour the UK. Quirky, poignant and hilarious, the play boasts an unashamed feel good factor with lots of laughs and a few tears. Ticket prices: Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinee R60 (R50); Friday and Saturday nights R70 (R60). Discounts for block bookings. R5 of every ticket sold will go the Sunflower Fund.
Sunday 11 Nov Cape Classique Trio consisting of Jill MacArthur (piano), Theresa Mills (cello) and Candice Brewis (violin) at 8pm at the Masque. They will be playing works by Fanny Mendelssohn, Anton Arensky as well as some Argentinian Tangos. An evening of chamber music not to be missed! Light refreshments on sale. Tickets R75 (R65)
MEMBERS’ MATTERS
We welcome Liz Roodt, who is taking the part of Ruth in Blithe Spirit, to our society!
I believe Lieske Bester is now home after her hip replacement op – hope things are steadily improving Lieske!
For all of you who received TROPHIES at the AGM in January – I’m afraid we need them back quite soon!! (And if you can let us have them back in a “polished” state that would be great!) They can be delivered to the Masque theatre Monday to Friday between 10h00 and 16h00; OR bring them to the members’ evening in October; OR give them to any committee member. But let’s say we need them back by 15 November ……..
An account of birga Thomas’ recent overseas holiday is below!
AUDITIONS!
Audtions for OUR first play of the year are coming up early in November and the full audition notice is below!!
Claremont Dramatic Society will be holding an audition for Kafka’s Dick by Alan Bennett to be directed by Clifford Graham. The production runs at the Masque in late February 2013 and the audition will be held on Sunday, 14 October at 14:00 at Claremont’s Clubhouse, The Hok. The cast requirements are 5 men (30-60, 3 with German accents!) and 1 woman. Contact Clifford Graham on 083 948 9115 or clifford@mondaymissile.co.za for further info.
Constantia Theatre Players will be holding an audition for the South African premier of Cyprienne to be directed by Barrie Howard. Cyprienne was translated and adapted by David Nicholson from Victorien Sardou’s comic masterpiece Divorcons. The production runs at the Masque in late May 2013 and the audition will be held on Sunday 11 November 10h00 at the Guide Hall in Bergvliet, with callbacks on Sunday 18 November 10h00. The cast requirements are 5 men (20-45) and 4 women (25-45). Contact Barrie Howard on barriejinh@gmail.com, or 021 715 2777 or 082 7424 720 for further info.
INTER-SOCIETY QUIZ
Fish Hoek Dramatic Society is hosting the annual Inter Society Quiz in the Masque Foyer, Muizenberg, on Sunday, 25 November at 18h30 for 19h00. Cost is R20 per head, which includes snacks, and there will be a Cash Bar. Further info from Richard on 021 555 0187 or email f.h.d.society@gmail.com. MVDS needs to make up (at least!) 2 teams of four so please let birga know if you want to enter – even if you don’t have a complete team she will make sure you get on one. Contestants’ entries are sponsored by MVDS but obviously we need supporters as well. So, please advise birga either way by 9 November on 021-788 5272 or birgatom@iafrica.com.
Ok, so where does the word QUIZ come from?
There are actually loads of theories on the internet but here’s two:
This one is offered by Stephen Fry: it probably derives from the first question in the old grammar school Latin oral: “’Qui es?” or “Who are you?” Or, a 1971 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary suggests that its current meaning may come from its association with the word “inquisitive”, which is a very old word, as old as the English language itself, having derived from the latin inquirire (to inquire).
MEMBERS’ EVENINGS
The next members’ evening will take place on Wednesday, 24 October at 19:30 at the Rendezvous: Nikita McShane will be running a Murder Mystery for us!! The usual suspects will be present: the money-loving and infinitely upper-class Mrs Peacock, accompanied by her dutiful and perhaps slightly obsessed assistant Miss White; the blood-hungry hunter Mr
Mustard and the nerdy psychopath Professor Plum; the gold-digging young lady who gets around Miss Scarlet; and Mr Green, an aggressive fighter for the earth. Members will receive clues and the characters will do their best to let you know all the scandalous skeletons in their fellow suspects’ closets. Watch the characters sweat under the detective’s relentless gaze as he grills them for information before your eyes. Interact with them and witness their reactions to
each other … Just beware, for a murderer is among us! So step into the shoes of an ace detective and find the murderer.
Food will be served so please RSVP to birga Thomas on birgatom@iafrica.com or 021-788 5272 by Friday, 19 October.
Our LAST members’ evening of the year will be on Wednesday, 28 November, the eve of MVDS 33rd birthday! Once again, Elaine from Upper Crust in Marina Da Gama has agreed to host our society and, as we are taking over the whole restaurant, we need plenty of members AND their friends to come along. Folks who have been to this venue before will certainly need no persuading – we have attended two evenings there and both have been fab!! Elaine will be supplying macaroni cheese, garlic bread and salad OR you can choose pizza – members will be required to pay R20 for the evening and for non-members the cost will be R30. There will (of course) be birthday cake included and drinks can be purchased from the bar. We will be playing “Parlour Games”! The November newsletter will contain RSVP details but please make
sure to reserve the date now.
ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY-NOTHING-TO-DO-WITH-DRAMA BIT!
I DO remember who gave me this interesting story about manure – it was supplied by Ed Cutten, a stalwart MVDS supporter who now resides in the Eastern Cape:
In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before the invention of commercial fertilizers, so large shipments of manure were quite common. It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas of course…. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen.
Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern….BOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the instruction “Stow high in transit”, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane. Thus evolved the term “S.H.I.T”, (Stow High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is still in use to this very day. Well, I certainly didn’t know that’s where it came from! So why is it considered a swear-word then??
Eve
Our Website: http://www.mvds.co.za
Our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mads/174087319308695
A “TRIP OF A LIFETIME” – BY BIRGA THOMAS
(Istanbul, Russia and Switzerland)
We started with a very short stop in Istanbul, which was a big surprise for me – I had expected a fairly “dirty” town,
something like I had experienced on trips to the Middle East and North Africa. But there we were: In a quite clean
place, even fairly wheelchair-friendly, with amazingly friendly people. I fell in love with the town immediately after
arriving and going for a very early-morning cruise on the Bosporus, avoiding the usually heavy traffic on the streets.
Then the Haga Sofia and the Blue Mosque were, of course, highlights of the city tour … with some amusing problems searching for wheelchair access at the latter. The Grand Bazaar, a hand-weaving (carpets) place were all the usual tourist traps, but lovely to see. The most fascinating aspect of Istanbul was the very visible care for the environment. In one neighbourhood alone 12 000 trees were planted last year! There were parks and wonderful playgrounds everywhere one could possibly plant a tree, bush and flowers, even along the city freeways. In two hotels we became aware of “sectionalised” power-saving measures in all corridors: The lights went on in a section you were approaching, automatically switching off behind you and so on. South Africa has to go a long way still …
One of my big “adventures” happened while I was fast asleep on the very early morning flight to Moscow. They almost forgot to load my wheelchair … Wolfgang made quite a fuss when he noticed it standing out there all alone when the hold and the doors were closed already! Luckily, I only learned about it much later.
In Moscow (very bad for wheelchairs!) we went straight on to the MS Rachmaninoff, unpacked and went on our first city tour. During a few days we visited not only the Kremlin (where – second adventure – I was “kidnapped” by a military man during a military parade … but that’s a story for another day), almost uncountable churches and palaces but also went to a performance of the National Circus (which was quite amazing, such performers!). Then our ship made its way via the Volga, several dams, lakes and canals to St Petersburg. We stopped in Uglich, Goritsy, Kizhi and Mandrogi for a day each. The men seemed all fascinated by the dozen or more locks we had to go through, while I couldn’t wait to get out of them to watch the tranquil birch-tree woods (my favourite tree) which lined the waterways. Kizhi is a tiny island at the north end of Lake Onega (Europe’s second-largest lake; we crossed Lake Ladoga, the largest, the next day), the northern-most place of our trip: 13o C in June, the island only approachable during about three months a year, otherwise “frozen in”. That night the sun did not get down at all (our only real White Night) and the pink-red glow which marked the change from “night” to day basked the famous 22-domed church [pictured] in a wonderful light. The church, built in 1714, is 37 m high, entirely made from wood without a single nail! Legend has it that it was built by a single man (can’t believe that).
And on the boat we had our “third” adventure when our cabin developed a leak during a very stormy, rainy day (just
like the Cape); a private waterfall down the wall. Luckily there were (just) two empty cabins available! But the visit by the Captain, the Cruise Director, the Translator, the Captain’s Wife (who is also in charge of the staff) and two Mechanics is another story for a rainy day. [Imagine the captain on all fours on the floor pronouncing that the floor is wet, in a way as if it wasn’t believable. And he and I talked without knowing a word of each other’s languages! That’s some “acting” for you.]
Then came a few glorious days with more palaces, churches, parks in and around St Petersburg. Yes, of course, the Hermitage was a big highlight as was the Pavlovsk Palace … and the lowlight a performance of Swan Lake.
We flew back via Istanbul to Munich, meeting André and friends for a few days. Enjoying theatre and taking in fresh air (it seems A. fancies beer gardens for most meals, seems to become a real Bavarian!) and European atmosphere. Then we criss-crossed Germany by car, taking in old favourites of ours (like Dresden, Berlin – with a visit to our favourite cabaret), meeting (very few!) friends and exploring a quite small part of western Germany for several days [again, with endless birch woods, quiet roads in the country and castles galore!]; neither of us had been there before, a last “German corner” for us to explore.
The final leg of our journey took us to Switzerland (rightly called the most expensive country in the world), which we explored first in the west down to Geneva to visit children/grandchildren (growing up too fast; the eldest started “big” school last week at the age of 4 ¾!), and then – on our way back to Munich – we saw more of central and east Switzerland. And once again I fell in love: Luzern is now among my top five cities in the world! – A few “farewell” days in Munich with André again (not so easy to say bye-bye and fly back home) rounded it all off.
AUDITION NOTICE
Muizenberg Dramatic Society will hold auditions for Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama Hedda Gabler on Wednesday 07 November 2012 at 19h00 and Saturday 10 November 2012 at 14h00 at the Madhouse, 57 Promenade Road, Lakeside (aka False Bay Rendezvous). This production will be directed by Richard Higgs and will be staged at the Masque Theatre, Muizenberg, from 15 to 22 March 2013.
Rehearsals will commence during the second week of January. For more information contact Richard on 083 611 1419richard.higgs@uct.ac.za.
The play:
The beautiful and headstrong Hedda Gabler marries the solemn and ineffectual academic Jörgen Tesman and resigns herself to a respectable life of boredom. Her one hope of escaping from the dullness is that Tesman has expectations of promotion, and he becomes the outlet for her ambitions. But when those ambitions are threatened, she comes up with a plan to remove the obstacles, and have some excitement in the process. If everyone will play along nicely, then everything will work out fine. Unfortunately, she is not the only one with a manipulative streak.
Hedda Gabler is a tragedy about ambition, desperation and the dark underbelly of respectable society. But it is also a play about courage and beauty – however terrible that beauty may be. It is a gripping horror story from the early 1900s that relies on no special effects, supernatural happenings or patent evil, just on the dark Freudian and Jungian shadows of society and the human mind.
Every character in the play is psychologically layered and multidimensional: There is no line that is not dripping with subtext. Masterfully sensitive and understated delivery from all actors is paramount. Dramatic tension runs high at times, so I am looking for actors who can be convincingly dramatic without being “theatrical”, who can portray irony with compassion, but with minimal comedy. Characteristically for Ibsen, the play seethes with undercurrents of sexual tension and ambiguity. While there is no nudity or explicit sex, and not much physical contact, the actors need to be comfortable with a certain level of intimacy with other actors of both sexes. Psychological resilience is also important: You may find yourself digging into disturbing parts of your psyche to get to the dark roots of a character!
Characters:
Hedda Tesman female, lead; early 30s
One of the great tragic heroines. Spoiled, mean, manipulative and condescending. But with an Achilles heel that damns and saves her at the same time. Many of her lines are heavily ironic, so she needs to be able to convey contrasting messages in body language and delivery.
Dr Jörgen Tesman male, large role; mid-30s
Pathetically eager and embarrassingly naïve, perhaps even camp. A stock nerd, engrossed in his abstract intellectual pursuits, with no clue of what is really happening around him. The effect is mildly tragic, but he does have some comic lines, which have to be delivered sensitively with dramatic, rather than comic, timing.
Mrs Elvsted female, supporting role; late 20s
A timid mouse of a woman who dares to flout convention for the love of an unsuitable man (Lövborg), but is inherently terrified of scandal. Easily manipulated, but with a wilful and stubborn quality that emerges under stress and is soon overridden by stronger characters.
Judge Brack male, supporting role; a fit and hearty 55+
Outwardly debonair and urbane and the pinnacle of respectability, but at heart an obscene, shady and sleazy character with few scruples.
Ejlert Lövborg male, supporting role; mid-30s
An academic, but in contrast to Tesman, he has enormous charisma and an intellectual, unaffected charm. A bit of a wasted genius, he has gone to seed from living a debauched life, but has reformed and is now back on the path of social rehabilitation. Although he is not inherently evil, it is not beneath him to use those who have fallen prey to his charm.
Miss Tesman female, supporting role; late 50s Tesman’s spinster aunt. Butch, but fussy, affected and highly strung. Her latent homosexuality is channelled into petty concerns and adoring worship of her nephew. Her womanliness is effeminate, rather than feminine.
Berte female, cameo role; 30s to 60s
The Tesmans’ maid. A vain, silly and downtrodden woman who provides some occasional light relief, but must nevertheless never lapse into farce.
Workmen two male roles, silent cameos; fit, well-built 20s to 30s
They spend most of their time wallpapering and re-wallpapering the Tesmans’ home (so must be comfortable up a ladder!) Although they are oblivious to what is happening on stage, they are almost always present and occasionally the object of the other characters’ attention. They must be able to move well and maintain focus throughout.
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Claremont Dramatic Society 