By David Simmons

Joburg Theatre is infused with bucket loads of wit and charm this March where Aunty Merle: The Musical has taken centre stage. Together with abundant local humour, local problems and some of the best one-liners on offer, audiences are in for a very special homegrown experience! Aunty Merle: The Musical is making its Johannesburg debut after two successful runs in Cape Town.

There is something quite remarkable about productions with an authentic feel, especially ones that represent people from each corner of society. We as an audience find solace when privy to stories that reflect and mimic one’s own life and inner feelings, making ones theatrical experience all the more worthwhile. If there was ever a time where humour in our country is most needed, Aunty Merle: The Musical sets the standard for huge comedic relief, igniting a warm and welcoming energy to the stage.

This family inspired musical, straight from the heart of Cape Town’s bustling Athlone has a certain tenderness to it, yet at the same time exudes strong themes with equally strong characters who make sure their stories are told in the best possible light. Aunty Merle Abrahams is no stranger to Cape Town, and for those who have enjoyed her antics over the years will find her anecdotes and comedy prowess all the more appealing.

Merle, or as she is commonly referred to as Athlone’s Rose is in fact the brain child of Marc Lottering and one could say his alter ego. She has been part of Marc’s one man shows for many years and although she may have aged ever so slightly, she is still a force to be reckoned with. Lottering is almost unrecognisable as Merle who epitomises the true characteristics of a typical house wife on Belgravia Road in Cape Town.

There is gossip aplenty at the Abrahams resident, especially with Merle’s faithful neighbour Soraya, portrayed by Carmen Maarman and housekeeper/friend Lidia depicted by Tankiso Mamabolo who’s vocal talents are worthy of praise. Royston Stoffels acts as Merle’s husband Dennis whose affection for his wife is loving and kind-heated. Their Son Carl, coming to terms with his own sexuality is sensitively performed by Anzio September whose character effortlessly has the knack of letting go of his past and enter into a new phase of openness and self -realisation.

Merle’s daughter Abigail Abrahams, played by the enormously talented Tracey-Lee Rose, has just been proposed to by her long-time boyfriend Alan White, a wonderful performance by Paul Du Toit. Abigail and Alan come from different spectrums of life, and with the usual stereotypes of mixed marriages and social standing long forgotten, there is not an inch of doubt that these two are destined to be together.

Alan’s wealthy family from Bantry Bay together with the Abrahams clan are both welcoming of each other even though their opinion and ideals are disagreeable at times. The fast-paced scenes with Merle and Claire bantering over wedding plans together with Dennis and David’s interaction is a joy to watch creating a very interesting family dynamic.

Gina Shmukler and Adrian Galley give a wonderful charm to Claire and David White, Alan’s parents. Claire can’t wait to have ’exotic’ grandchildren however makes it perfectly clear that they are not allowed to call her ‘Ouma’! No story is complete without its resident villain who just so happens to be Abigails Ex, Denver, and a slimy and slippery character brought to life by Loukmaan Adams whose shared secret with Abigail he threatens to leak.

Directed by Lara Foot with music written by Marc Lottering and Tarryn Lamb, this wonderfully diverse musical in essence is all about acceptance and understanding and most importantly how we embrace it. Together with a phenomenal 7 piece band on stage don’t miss this proudly South African experience!

Aunty Merle The Musical will be running at the Joburg theatre until Sunday the 3^rd of March 2019.

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With thanks to our friends in the Theatre Business, who is bringing Marc Lottering’s Aunty Merle; The Musical to the Mandela Stage of the Joburg Theatre, we are giving away 2 Double Tickets to the 20:00 Performance of this true Cape Townian Production, on Wednesday, 20 February 2019,

Popular comedian, Marc Lottering’s most beloved alter ego, Aunty Merle Abrahams sashays onto the stage for the first time in Johannesburg with Aunty Merle, The Musical, after a Christmas and New Years run in Cape Town.

Written by comedian, Marc Lottering and directed by Lara Foot, the show has received four Fleur du Cap nominations and has already enjoyed two sell-out seasons in Cape Town to rave reviews.

Aunty Merle; The Musical Competition is now closed.

Please Note:

1. This competition Closes on Friday, 15 February 2019.
2. Tickets are only valid for the specified dates and performance times.
3. Seat allocations are up to the discretion of the promoters.
4. Tickets may not be upgraded, or exchanged for cash, or for alternate performances.
5. Each Prize comprises of two tickets per winner
6. No-Shows will not receive replacement tickets.
7. By entering this competition, the participant agrees to the terms and conditions.
8. Prizes does not include accommodation and / or travel to and from the event.
9. Winners will be notified by mail.
10. One Entry per Email Address will be entered into the draw.

The post Win Tickets to Aunty Merle: The Musical appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Popular comedian, Marc Lottering’s most beloved alter ego, Aunty Merle Abrahams sashays onto the stage for the first time in Johannesburg with Aunty Merle, The Musical, after a Christmas and New Years run in Cape Town.

Written by comedian, Marc Lottering and directed by Lara Foot, the show has received four Fleur du Cap nominations and has already enjoyed two sell-out seasons in Cape Town to rave reviews.

High drama unfolds in Belgravia Road, Athlone, as Merle’s daughter, Abigail, announces her engagement to her boyfriend, Alan.  As Merle puts it: “He’s a good looking white chap!”  But it’s never smooth-sailing in the world of musicals when Abigail’s twisted and corrupt ex, Denver Paulse – who holds a dodgy top job with the SABC – is determined to get her back – and if not, threatens to reveal a very dark secret which is bound to tear the lovers apart.

Aunty Merle, The Musical boasts a talented South African cast including Marc Lottering as Aunty Merle, Tracey-Lee Oliver as Abigail, Paul du Toit as Alan, Loukmaan Adams as Denver Paulse, with a stellar support cast including Royston Stoffels, Tankiso Mamabolo, Gina Shmukler, Adrian Galley, Carmen Maarman, Zandile Madliwa, Sizwesandile Mnisi, Anzio September, Crystal Finck and Tashreeq de Villiers- accompanied by a live 8-piece band

Twenty-two original songs, with lyrics by Marc Lottering and Tarryn Lamb; musical direction by Alistair Izobel and choreography by Grant Van Ster, have earned the cast thunderous standing ovations.

Aunty Merle – The Musical

Cape Town

Baxter Theatre

3 December 2018 to 5 January 2019.

Tickets from R135 and available from mwww.baxter.co.za

Suitable for all ages (no under 3’s).

Johannesburg

Joburg Theatre

1 February 2019 to 3 March 2019

Tickets from R145 and available from www.joburgtheatre.com.

Suitable for all ages (no under 3’s).

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After receiving rave reviews across the board from critics and audiences alike, Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre’s grand-scale, smash hit, all South African production of West Side Story will be presented at the Mandela Theatre at the Joburg Theatre by popular demand from 24 January 2017.

West Side Story ended a staggeringly successful, sold-out run at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town last year, and was the Fugard Theatre’s first out-of-house production, five years on from the theatre’s official launch in 2010.

West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim’s musical theatre masterpiece, is based on an original conception of Jerome Robbins and is arguably one of the world’s greatest musicals. The stellar creative team is headed by Matthew Wild (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Funny Girl) as director, Charl-Johan Lingjnfelder (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Funny Girl) as musical director and conductor, and choreographer Louisa Talbot (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Funny Girl). The Fugard Theatre team has selected the finest South African talent for this production that first premiered on Broadway in New York in 1957. The superb cast of 40 is backed by a full Philharmonic Orchestra playing Bernstein’s magnificent score that includes iconic songs such as “Something’s Coming”, “Maria“, “I Feel Pretty” and “Tonight“.

Reprising their roles as Tony, Maria and Bernardo respectively, will be Fleur du Cap Theatre Award winners Jonathan Roxmouth (Topsy Turvy, A Handful of Keys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The Phantom of the Opera) as Tony and Lynelle Kenned (Orpheus in Africa, Showboat, The Sound of Music) as Maria and Christopher Jaftha (The Sleeping Beauty, High School Musical) as Bernardo. Sharing the title role once more with Ms. Kenned will be the London-based actress and opera singer Filipa van Eck (Carmen, L’Aggripina) who will perform the role of Maria once a week. Bianca le Grange (Blood Brothers, District Six Kanala, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) returns to reprise her role of Anita.

The Jets gang is led once again by Fleur du Cap nominee Stephen Jubber (Annie, Showboat) as Riff, backed by a superb cast that includes Daniel Buys (Cabaret, Saturday Night Fever) and Grant Almirall (Singin’ in the Rain, Jersey Boys) as Action. Mr. Buys will perform the role of Action from 24 January to 18 February 2017 and Mr. Almirall will perform the role from 19 February to 5 March 2017. Sven–Eric Müller (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret) as Diesel, Cameron Botha (Singin’ in the Rain, Sweeney Todd) as Snowboy, Clive Gilson (Sister Act, High School Musical) as Big Deal, LJ Neilson (Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing) as Anybody’s, Elzanne Crause (A Thousand Shepherds, Queen at the Ballet, The Phantom of the Opera) as Velma, Kristin Wilson (So You Think You Can Dance, Private Presley) as Graziella, Tamryn van Houten (Private Presley) as Minnie and Caitlin Clerk (Sister Act, Showboat) as Pauline. Adrian Galley (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret), returns as Doc. Brendan Murray (Amadeus, Romeo and Juliet) will perform the role of Krupke alternating with Richard Lothian (An Absolute Turkey, Taming of the Shrew) who will once again be the fight choreographer.

Christopher Jaftha, now a well-known Top Billing presenter, leads the Sharks as Bernardo, with Zolani Shangase (The Lion King, Orpheus in Africa) as Chino, Carlo McFarlane (Footloose- The Musical, A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits) as Pepe, Duane Williams (Honey 3, Cinderella: If the Shoe Fits) as Indio, Thami Njoko (Swan Lake) as Luis, Tevin Wiener (Honey 3) as Toro, Sabelo Radebe (Peter Pan) as Nibbles, Kirsten Rossiter (Grease, Jersey Boys) as Rosalia, Chloe Perling (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret) as Consuela, Sarah-Ann van der Merwe (Reik Na Die Sterre) as Francisca, Natasha Hess (District Six Kanala, Orpheus in Africa) as Estella and Ipeleng Merafe (Swan Lake, A Thousand Shepherds) as Teresita. Tamryn van Houten (Private Presley, Spartacus of Africa),  Sibusiso Mxosana (Spartacus of Africa, Spring and Fall), Gemma Trehearn (Iris Warriors, A Thousand Shepherds) and Nurit Graff (Dirty Dancing, Showboat) complete the talented line up of remarkable performers.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, the tale is set in the Upper West Side neighbourhood in New York City in the mid-1950s. The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs of different backgrounds. The members of the Sharks are taunted by the Jets. The young protagonist, Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang leader, Riff, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and the focus on social conflict marked a turning point in American musical theatre.

West Side Story is a must-see that is guaranteed to be a highlight on Johannesburg’s 2017 theatre calendar.

The season will run from 24 January to 5 March 2017 and tickets are now on sale through 021 461 4554, Computicket, 08619158000 or from the Joburg Theatre directly. Given the anticipation about this stellar musical and how the Cape Town season sold out, advance booking is highly recommended. The producers recommend an age restriction of 12 years with parental guidance. ADVANCE BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED. 

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