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

The post Cheers To Sarajevo appeared first on Stage and Screen.

At the dawn of the Yugoslavian war, a South African photo journalist records a soon-to-be taboo love affair between a Serbian man and a Bosnian woman. A love affair that has blossomed from the bud of a childhood friendship. But can love survive war? Can friendship survive Sarajevo?

Cheers to Sarajevo first premiered at the 2016 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, where it received excellent reviews. It is directed by Ashleigh Harvey (Funny Girl), assisted by Sven-Eric Muller (Funny Girl, West Side story, Cabaret) and stars Stephen Christopher Jubber (West Side Story, ANNIE), Aimee Mica Goldsmith (Warner Bros’ Blended, Othello, Equus), Alistair Moulton Black (King Lear, Sexual Perversity in Chicago) and Lamar Bonhomme (The Crown, High Rollers).

Cheers to Sarajevo hits the Alexander Bar on Strand Street from 26 June – 8 July, nightly at 7pm.Tickets cost R80 if booked online via https://alexanderbar.co.za/show/Cheers_to_Sarajevo/ or R120 at the door. Advance booking is recommended. Warning: Sex. Language. Violence. And some smoking.

What the media have had to say:

…a play that manages to portray the compromises we accept in order to survive extreme situations.‘ – The Critter

‘It’s a play that’s both simple and complex in its clear confrontation with the universal madness of war. And it won’t leave you untouched.‘ – Robyn Sassen

‘Judging by the way a full house audience was engaged with the play and gave it a rousing applause, I have no doubt that tonight’s work in progress performances were the seeds from which a very successful production will grow. Hats off to the young company.‘ – Ismail Mahomed – Artistic Director National Arts Festival.

Cheers to Sarajevo

Alexander Bar

26 June to 8 July at 19:00

The cast of Cheers to Sarajevo– L-R Stephen Christopher Jubber, Alistair Moulton Black, Aimee Mica Goldsmith and Lamar Bonhomme

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M-Net Movies announce the contenders of its unique interactive competition.

You’ve cried, you’ve laughed and you’ve seen some “Oscar-winning” performances in M-Net Movies’ unique The Greatest Movie Ever Made competition. Now, after a whopping 387 entries from across the continent, M-Net Movies and a panel of experts has narrowed down the entries to just 17 contestants. Spearheaded by three reputable television and film production directors from Spitfire Films, the selection process was in the hands of experts like Akin Omotoso, AK and Peter Heaney.

In this extraordinary casting competition, M-Net Movies invited aspiring actors to recreate scenes from movies on the different DStv channels in the hopes of starring opposite well-known local actors in a short M-Net Movies production and maybe win the big prize – an all-expenses paid trip to Hollywood, sponsored by UIPSA.

Akin Omotoso, AK and Peter Heaney will also be the three directors of this short movie, which will hop between different genres.

Nigerian-born Akin Omotoso has garnered several top-notch film awards over the years, and his highly acclaimed crime drama 2011 film Man On Ground traveled the international film circuit winning over critics and audiences alike. His most recent production Vaya, was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

About judging the entries for The Greatest Movie Ever Made Akin said: “The quest is always finding truth in the performance, but the talent that came forward was absolutely mind-blowing.”

“People were so creative, or interesting, or just brilliant that it made our job selecting a final cast very difficult,” fellow judge Peter Heaney agreed. “Ultimately, the truth is that casting is about the combination of people, and how a group fits together. We could have cast so many of the people who submitted entries that I hope we get to do this again!”

Heaney, who began his career in front of the camera, is a seasoned director, who recently won the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuur Vereniging (ATKV) MediaVeertjies Award for Best Director for the award-winning drama, Erfsondes.

AK has thrived on strong conceptual ideas with striking graphic visuals, bursting with special effects innovation and cinematic magic. The talented director has overseen over 260 commercials and picked up over 40 international awards. AK has also featured at the Global Association for Creative Advertising & Design Awards (D&AD) Awards in New York, the One Show Awards, the PromaxBDA Awards in both London and Los Angeles and the Cannes Advertising Awards.

Here are the Top 17 finalists they picked for The Greatest Movie Ever Made:

Andy Ella (27) from  Centurion in Gauteng, South Africa

Angelo Johannes (37) from Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa

Daniel Molokwu ( 17) from  Accra in Ghana)

Devon Wayne Saunders (33) from Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa

George Mnguni (22)from Vosloorus in Gauteng, South Africa

Jacqueline Angula (26) from Namibia

Jerome Galiao (32) from Randburg in Gauteng, South Africa

Julian Fouche (22) from Germiston in Gauteng, South Africa

Kelly Gossmann (24) from Randparkridge in Gauteng, South Africa

Kira Marie Tim (25) from Blairgowrie in Gauteng, South Africa

Lamar Bonhomme (27) Randparkridge in Gauteng, South Africa

Lauren Jenae Vankeirsbilck (25) Bryanston in Gauteng, South Africa

Letlotlo Mohlabeng(20) Randfontein in Gauteng, South Africa

Nompilo Hlongwa (25) Durban in Gauteng, South Africa

Percival Sibanda (22) Clearwater in Gauteng, South Africa

Sheena Deepnarain (29) Greenstone in Gauteng, South Africa

Tshegofatso Masenya (17) Limpopo in Gauteng, South Africa

The judging process was verified by auditing firm Deloitte.

For more information, updates on the competition and to view the casting videos visit www.mnet.tv/mmgreatest and on social media with the hashtag #MMGreatest.

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