by Jaco du Plessis

It’s a cold and windy evening in the Mother City but that didn’t stop the magic from happening at the Circus. This however isn’t your normal circus, it’s an Enchanted one! The magic takes place in the moonlight shadow of Green Point stadium in what is called the Spiegeltent. For those of you that paid attention in standard six Afrikaans, this literally translates into Mirror Tent, and it’s all the way from Belgium.

As we enter the tent we are met with beautiful creatures carrying vials of Champagne and the sounds of a young man singing like a well-dressed busker in and underground subway. The sounds of his voice carry the cheerful mood in the front room of the tent as people share laughs, clink a few glasses to a great night ahead and some even transforming their faces into magical creatures by smiling face painters. The entrance to the Spiegeltent’s main floor is watched over by two men with more muscles than any normal man should have. The main floor of the tent is surprisingly big, don’t judge the tent from the outside. The dinner theatre style of the Cirque is clear from the get go with tables arranged around a centre focal point on the main floor leading up to a stage with a rather impressive LED screen. The lighting inside the tent is like that of a touring artist concert tour and aided by the mirrors lining the tent they make for a truly enchanted space.

Sprightful young waiters rush around the tent and explain the dinner experience, bringing platefuls of delicious snacks right before the lights dim and the show starts. Enter our ringmaster and host for the evening Spiegel (Mel Jones) and her goofy sidekick Smiegel (Piky Pokus). An upbeat dance number follows and the show takes off like a rocket to the moon. The night’s entertainment doesn’t disappoint with the Mirror tent being transformed at times into a new age laser zone and death defying knife throwing set.

There are two highlights of the evening for me, the first being the opening act of two beautiful acrobats intertwining their subtle bodies around a pole in the middle of the tent. This however isn’t your usual pole dancing act. The ladies morph the pole so that it becomes an extension of their bodies and they twist and turn in ways that leave you breathless at what you are seeing. The second is that of The Bubbleman, Thomas Favaro. I don’t think there is a child that hasn’t experienced the joys of creating bubbles and chasing them around before they burst, but Favaro takes this up a few notches. Mesmerising the audience with vapours of smoke, bubbles within bubbles and then at some point even getting himself in a bubble, leaving us all in awe, with rekindled memories of our own childhoods.

The acts that feature in this show is world class and you can see that the duo behind Showcasting, Sebastian Cassie, who also directs the show, and Michael Carrigan, have taken the time to assemble the best team to bring an evening of great entertainment to audiences around the world. The show also features live singing acts (Ashtevhaan Mintoor and Noa Milan) that aid and make the acts even more magical. Songs from Josh Groban to Christina Perri are sung in gentle tones that at times leave you with goose bumps.

Then as the final lights dim on the two hour show you are almost sad that it had to end, your senses are heightened buy the visual spectacular you have just witnessed and then to everyone’s delight Spiegel announces that the Tent DJ is ready to spin his decks and take you late into the night. This after party scene lets you engage with the acts and get in those selfies.

Enchanted Cirque is a dinner theatre style experience not to be missed, but hurry up as it has a limited run until Mid-October!

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by Jaco du Plessis

If there is something we South African’s know how to do, it is to laugh at ourselves. We always see the funny side of this rainbow nation of ours, and one man has been a leading force behind some of the best, yet sometimes controversial laughs. Pieter-Dirk Uys stands like a tall monument when it comes to South African comedy, enjoying a career that spans more than half a century. In his latest show, Echoes of a Noise, Pieter lets us into his world and where it all started for the beloved 71 year old satirist, author and social activist.

The theatre is abuzz with excitement as the lights dim and a single spotlight illuminates the lone stool on the stage. There is no doubt where our attention would be focused for the next 90 minutes and Uys doesn’t disappoint. No one could look away as he grabbed you by the hand and opened the top drawer of his father’s writing desk – “in case something terrible happens, grab the drawer and run to the neighbours”.

Uys introduces us to the people who helped mould him into the man he is today, there is Pa, Hannes Uys, his German born mother Helga Bassel, his childhood nanny and his sweatheart crush, the beautiful Sophia Loren. Uys reveal aspects about his life in the theatre, what you can and couldn’t do in the Apartheid South Africa, and his love, or lack thereof, for the Censor Board.

The stories wrap around you like the warmth of a fireplace in winter. Suddenly, I’m not in the theatre anymore, Uys manages to take you into his childhood sitting room in Pinelands, Cape Town . This stirs up my own personal memories of Sunday afternoons at my grandparents’ house listening to all the stories from their lives. The memories make us laugh as we relive some of his best inspirational moments, and then something happened that I never thought would… Uys jerks at my heart strings as he recalls a personal tragedy and tears start to well in my eyes. This is the power of Pieter-Dirk Uys, he breaks down barriers with his gift, whether it be racial, political or emotional.

This show is a great memoir to the life that has brought so many memories, so many ground breaking shows, and has given us one of the most iconic woman in South Africa, Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout. I kept on wondering when she would make an appearance, what is a Pieter-Dirk Uys show without her? And then like only he can Pieter-Dirk makes his biggest echo of a noise, the lady we have come to love and adore, and with the brightest shade of red on the lips, we come full circle.

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By Jaco du Plessis

Ask every young boy what superpower he desires and the answer you will most likely get, is to fly! We all know of a young boy who can do just that, Peter Pan. This classic, originally created by author J.M. Barrie in 1904, gets a revival from Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer, just in time for the winter holidays.

I love classic theatre stories, characters that I grew up with and the magic that originates from places like Neverland. Getting to see Peter Pan was even more magical this time round, as the theatre was located inside the Canal Walk Shopping Centre, which transformed their Centre Court into Wonderland for the holidays. It is like our own fantasy world, where we can be transported to an enchanted place, where anything is possible.

After getting used to the hustle of the mall activities, the blue glow of a quiet Neverland sets the scene for the opening sequence. The stage is strangely flat, with a universe of stars painted across a canvas. Like Neverland though, things are never quite as they seem… The beautifully designed grandiose set and costumes, paired with the direction by Abrahmse and Meyer makes for a show that is a treat for not only the younger generation, but also those whom are young at heart.

The Darling children, played by Jenny Stead as Wendy, Kyle Jardine as John Darling, and Luke Tyler in the role of Michael Darling, are introduced in their home, just as their parents are about to leave for the Opera. We get our first peek of Peter, albeit his shadow, as Ms. Darling manages to trap him inside a toy trunk. Also featuring, are the talents of Bianca Flanders as the Princess Tiger-Lily, Roberto Kyle as Panther, Stuart Brown and Roland Perold as the Lost Boys.

Peter Pan, played by the dashing Grant Almirall, is no stranger to the South African stage, with credits to his name like Singin’ in the Rain and an award winning stint as Frankie Vallie in the hit, Jersey Boys. Pan makes his first grand entrance onto the stage flying into the room, accompanied by the energetic Tinkerbelle, danced by newcomer Raine Waring who, happens to be a ballerina in this adaption. This magic all around, cared for smiles on all the faces around me.

As the story goes, Peter convinces Wendy and her brothers to join him in Neverland, to entertain the boys with his stories and fulfilling Wendy’s wish to be their mother. Whisked away to Neverland we get to meet the other lost boys, the beautiful Princess Tiger-Lily and her sidekick Panther. The introductions turn to song and the whole cast is as cheerful as they can be. The scene then changes as we finally see the stage come to life with the center section opening up to reveal the Jolly Roger, its evil Captain Hook, played by Marcel Meyer and the always on-hand first mate Smee, played by Dean Balie. This brilliant use of the set almost frames Captain Hook’s mad schemes in such a way, it sets them apart from the rest of cheerful Neverland.

Here we get a short version of what happened to Hook and why he now has a hook for a hand. This part of the story wouldn’t be the same without encapsulate the threats of the crocodile that fed on Hook’s hand. This production of Peter Pan, doesn’t disappoint to produce this somewhat cuddly, yet ferocious beast.

The modern telling of this classic tail does not fail to enthrall the viewers and none more so, than the flying antics displayed by Peter Pan. Pity that the rest of the lost boys and the Darling children don’t get to share in this wonderful experience. Looking up at Almirall performing Pan’s aerial acrobatics to gymnastic perfection, makes the audience anticipate Tinkerbelle to sprinkle her magic dust upon them, to enable them to fly. The story engages the audience in ways that makes you feel as though you are part of the show in more ways than just being a casual viewer; you get to clap and make Tinkerbelle come to life, after she drinks the poison that was meant for Peter – I do believe in fairies, I do, I do!

Peter Pan runs from 1 July – 23 July. Tickets, priced at R80, may be acquired from the Centre Court Ticket box or Computicket. Unreserved seating necessitates those with young children to ensure seats are taken up early at the venue, so the little ones can get an unrestricted view of the stage. They don’t want to miss one second of this exciting story.

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By Jaco du Plessis

In a world where war and violence have become a daily feature, from the news to our social media, one has to ask if we really need to take this subject matter to the stage. My answer is a definite YES! Yes, because of a show like Cheers to Sarajevo, co-written by Aimee Mica Goldsmith and Lidija Marelic, currently showing at the Alexander Bar on Strand Street.

Walking into the small theatre space the audience is met with the debris of what could possibly have been a modest apartment, graffiti line the walls and the furniture is sparse. The show hasn’t even started yet and already there is an uneasiness in the air. The lights dim and we meet three friends; a Bosnian women, Mirela, played by actress Goldsmith, her Serbian boyfriend, Aleksander, acted out by Alistair Moulten Black  and Lamar Bonhamme  portraying the role of Slobo. The three are unnervingly cheerful in this first scene, something that won’t last very long.

The three friends go through all the pain and suffering that comes with war – food shortages, dodging bullets and bombs, but all the while are trying to be strong when the greatest challenge of this ethnic war threatens to pull their friendship apart. One thing is clear during the first few minutes of the show, is the love between Mirela and Aleksander. This love that was forged on the streets of Sarajevo from a young age has managed to keep them alive during this difficult time and keep them hopeful of a future together, a future that becomes threatened by a South African photo journalist, Peter, played by Stephen Jubber.  The South African is in Sarajevo to document the war, and soon starts to develop feelings toward Mirela.

What follows isn’t an easy viewing as the war and its atrocities are brought centre stage, the characters change and a once strong Mirela falls victim to her friend Slobo’s cruel hands, the ambitious Aleksander becomes a broken soldier and the South African looking to make his mark as a photojournalist tries to become the one person to save Mirela.

The dark mood in the air is enhanced under direction of Ashleigh Harvey, assisted by Sven-Eric Muller.  The clever use of documentary audio tracks entrap you into the war setting, you become increasingly anxious in your chair as the sound of constant machine gun clatter and the exploding bombs heighten your senses. The direction makes you go from angry at the circumstances, to sad and emotional as Mirela breaks down during one of the final scenes. Goldsmith delivers a heartfelt performance, you connect with her emotions, her frustrations and her sheer determination to not let go of what she believes in; the country she calls home and the people she loves. Her performance is one that will sit with you for some time after the production has ended.

Another stand out performance is Lamar’s portrayal of Slobo, which takes you on a riveting transformation journey. The once cheerful man we meet in the first few minutes, gets replaced with a dark tormented soldier. Lamar moulds the character to an almost mannequin-like exterior devoid of all emotion, with intense violent and brutal outbursts breaking through at times.  I was pleased to see such diversity in his stage presence.

The lights darken and for a moment the audience is glued to their seats, it takes a moment to realise that the show is over, tears are brushed from a cheek to my left and I’m at a loss for words. A standing ovation follows and people leave the theatre. Confused and emotional, angry and frustrated, I am left with questions. Why did this war happen? How did it end? How many people lost the love of their lives? This was not an easy show to watch, firstly because I didn’t know much about the Yugoslavian war, I was too young to remember when it all took place.  Secondly, watching this play is for the theatrical art lover, because this show doesn’t sugar coat the subject of war, but once you start processing it all you also come to the realisation that beneath the turmoil and the anguish there lies a story of love and compassion, and the fight to stand up for what is right and to say this is who I am and I will not allow my circumstances get the better of me.

This is a show you have to go and see, it delivers performances that are guttural, ones you can somehow relate to and it shows you how through all the struggles that we face in life, we do not need to give up on what we believe in.  This show transcends the theatre space and brings this reality to us in a way that we can connect with.

Cheers to Sarajevo runs from 26 June – 8 July at the Alexander bar.  Tickets cost R80 if booked from their website, and R120 at the door.

This review was edited by Bronwen Kerry.  Photos by Jesse Kramer

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By Jaco du Plessis

Cape Town nights are heating up this winter and the reason for being is Sné Dladla and his one man show iChameleon currently showing at the Golden Arrow Studio at the Baxter Theatre. For those of us who like to hibernate in winter and avoid the gym, you will love this new show as it leaves you feeling like you’ve just had a good ab workout from all the laughs!

The man bringing us this colourful show is none other than South African comedic royalty Nik Rabinowitz (Power Struggle & Fortyfied) and the artistic pairing with Director Loukmaan Adams (Kat and the Kings & Remembering the Lux) makes for true comedic gold!

This one man comedy show is filled with depth and laughter. The collaboration between the three comedic geniuses makes for an enticing piece of theatre. One man shows can often become tiresome and repetitive… after all you are watching the same person on stage for the entire show. However, Dladla under the direction of Loukmaan only leaves you wanting more. The production flows cleverly between scenes and the affects linger!

Dladla is a true chameleon in his craft as he takes you from topics such as commercialism, to the funniest bowel antics story I have heard in my life – sure to start a new #YOUMUSTGO trend! He even manages to include some personal moments that every child could relate to when dealing with their moms, and technology. He also offers very useful advice for people who have found “The One” and then mixes it all together while turning a few dials and buttons on his mixing deck, showing off his impeccable musical skills!

But the funny man isn’t just all laughs. Dladla manages to transition into some sentimental moments. He surprised the audience with a performance of a song he had written for someone special and then instantly kicked the funny back into high gear! Dladla eloquently gives the audience a peak into his personal life with anecdotal comedic moments bound to make you smile. Dlalda’s versatility captures the audience from beginning to end with 70 minutes of pure delight.

Dladla’s personality and charm left you wanting more, long after the show ended! The minimalist set features well-lit brown packing boxes in different sizes hanging as a backdrop, making you wonder about their significance. You keep expecting one of them to reveal some hidden talent yet to be discovered about Dladla, but sadly, it leaves you hanging, just like the boxes…

It’s clear that this award winning comedian is bound for greatness. Get over to Computicket and book your seats now for the hottest comedy show that is way more fun than breaking a sweat in the gym. iChameleon will run until 8 July 2017 at the Baxter Golden Arrow Theatre.

In Sné‘s own words… YOU MUST GO!

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