by Louw Mulder

It is not the first time I have had the privilege to review a Fugard Theatre Production, but it is the first time I am writing about a production performed at the Fugard Theatre. Being in Cape Town is always an experience for a Gautenger like me, and to see a professional musical like Funny Girl  on its home stage, completes a perfect visit. I was pleasantly surprised with the Fugard Theatre itself, it has a very nice, intimate, friendly and arty feel. I think it is a brilliant idea for out of towners to include a visit to this theatre when traveling to Cape Town.

After a successful run of West Side Story in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and returning to the stage in 2018, Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre have produced the 1964 Broadway hit, Funny Girl, The Musical – the stage production most theatre critics say was Barbra Streisand’s big break when she played the lead role in the original production at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Even though it is a treat to see experienced musical theatre actors and actresses perform, nothing beats that feeling of being impressed and blown away by performers I have seen for the first time in a lead or prominent role. The Fugard Theatre is becoming a key player in providing these opportunities with the likes of Shaun Smit in Rocky Horror, and most recently Lynelle Kenned in West Side Story. With Funny Girl, they did not disappoint.

With names in the cast becoming more and more familiar to the regular theatre junkie like myself, Funny Girl did not fall short at all. But I have to elaborate on two of the performances that made me excited for what is to come in the future.

In the lead role, playing Fanny Brice, is the remarkable Ashleigh Harvey. Harvey has also appeared on the cast list for Rocky Horror, and Shrek – the Musical, but Funny Girl is the production where she has really imprinted her talent in the industry. The role is complicated in my view, as it needs a strong voice, and also an actress that plays a not-so-clever, naïve girl, who grows into a mature lady towards the end. Harvey was outstanding, because she was funny when she needed to be, sincere when the role required it to be, and also forced complete silence in the audience when she showed off her vocal abilities. In character, she also does look like a Fanny…

The performance I remember most distinctly, is that of Cameron Botha, in the role of Eddie Ryan. His credits in musical theatre include performances in West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Peter Pan Pantomime, as well as a whole lot of Afrikaans productions. Even though these were smaller roles, Botha is getting sexier and more mature as an actor in his own right. The distinct characteristic of an impressive performance, is someone who owns the stage, consumes the attention of the audience member, making the stage look small and irrelevant. This was Botha on the night.

The rest of the Funny Girl Company includes Clyde Berning, Kate Normington, who also played her role brilliantly as always, Diane Wilson, Michelle Maxwell, Grant Towers and well known acting veteran, Mike Huff. The boys in the ensemble cast includes Sven Eric Muller, Sibusiso Mxosana, and Daniel Fisher.

The ladies added the snazzy, glitz and sex appeal needed to complete the cast line-up. Lucy Tops, Jenna Robinson-Child, Tyla Nurden and Tamryn van Houten played their roles with a high standard, alongside the more experienced Ambre Chanel Fulton, Michele La Trobe, and one of our most promising theatre actresses, LJ Nielson.

Innovative sets, and smooth transitions between scenes is also something that is mostly overlooked by many patrons, but for me, it is something that can make, or break a pertinent element of a stage production, namely the flow of the show. With a revolving stage, Saul Radomsky designed a set that promotes such a suave flow between scenes, which does not distract the audience from the story unfolding.

Even the costumes were classically appropriate for a story that plays off in the 1960’s, and I think Birrie le Roux did a fashionably remarkable job in designing them. Daniel Galloway and Benjamin du Plessis were responsible for illuminating the stage, and Mark Malherbe completed the creative team as the sound designer.

One of South Africa’s top maestros, and also resident Musical Director to the Fugard Theatre, Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, was in charge of the music. Louisa Talbot, also with a remarkable resume, worked out the moves, as choreographer for Funny Girl. The music was powerful and classical, swing and cabaret at times, but whatever the genre, it was melodically orchestrated. The dances, moves and steps, were in sync with the music, and under the leadership of multi-award winning director, Matthew Wild, the production of Funny Girl was set to be a success from the word go.

Us in Gauteng pray with you Cape Townians for rain, but Don’t let it Rain on My Parade.

You can visit www.thefugard.com for show times, and ticketing information.

This review was edited by Bronwyn Kerry.  Photos courtesy of the Fugard Theatre

The post Funny Girl appeared first on Stage and Screen.

After much anticipation, the Naledi Theatre Awards is proud to announce the nominees for productions staged during 2016.

The Nominations Reveal was hosted by the Market Theatre and took place on 27 March at the Mannie Manim Theatre amidst great excitement from the theatre industry’s key players.

BEST THEATRE SET DESIGN

Greg King – Suddenly the Storm

Karabo Legoabe – Waiting for Jack

Kayli Elit Smith – Cheers to Sarajevo

Sarah Roberts – iLembe

Saul Radomsky – Bad Jews

Sylvaine Strike – DOP

Wilhelm Disbergen – AS

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Jade Bowers (assisted by Camille Behrens) – Scorched

Floris Louw – Mannequin

Greg King and Shanti Naidoo – Shrek The Musical

Niall Griffin – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Onthatile Matshidiso – Egoli

Sarah Roberts – iLembe

Thando Lobese – TAU

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Gareth Hewitt Williams – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Hlomohang Mothetho – TAU

Mandla Mtshali – A Raisin in the Sun

Nomvula Molepo – Egoli

Oliver Hauser – Scorched

Thapelo Mokgosi – 6 Characters in Search of an Author

Wesley France – Suddenly the Storm

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Disney Nonyane – 6 Characters in Search of an Author

Emily Adams – I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Gladman Balintulo – iLembe

Lee Brune – Shrek The Musical

Mark Malherbe – Annie

Mark Malherbe – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Richard Smith – Sneeuwitjie

BEST CHILDREN’S PRODUCTION (Supported by ASSITEJ SA) (0 – 12)

Disney’s Peter Pan – People’s Theatre.

Disney’s Junior Aladdin – People’s Theatre.

Khokho’s Treasure – The National Children’s Theatre.

Library Lion – The National Children’s Theatre.

Mr Popper’s Penguins – The National Children’s Theatre.

Ntombi Dreams Big – Alt Eye Productions, Redhill Festival and PopArt

Seussical JNR – People’s Theatre.

BEST PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES (Supported by ASSITEJ SA) (13 – 17)

Hoopvol – Pit Productions.

Just Antigone – The Movement.

My Japan – Andre Stolz,

Narrative Dreams – Seeds of Water

Shakespeare’s Coriolanus – National Children’s Theatre in ass with Renos Spanoudes

Woza Albert – Market theatre

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A CHILDRENS’ THEATRE PRODUCTION (Supported by ASSITEJ SA)

Gamelihle Bovana – Library Lion

Jovan Muthray – Just Antigone

Mathabo Tlali – Ntombi Dreams Big

Nyakallo Motloung – Just Antigone

Thapelo Sebogodi – Shakespeare’s Coriolanus

Veronique Mensah – Library Lion

Palesa Makhalima – Seussical Jnr

BEST NEWCOMER / BREAKTHROUGH

Aubrey Mogali – Narrative Dreams

Dean-John Smith – A Cock and Bull Story

Edwin van der Walt – A Cock and Bull Story

Daniel Richards – Pay Back The Curry!

Ezbie Sebatsa Moilwa – The Dying Screams of the Moon

Phillru van Achterbergh – Porselein

Wilhelm van der Walt – DOP

BEST ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY

Duane Alexander – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Janine Bennewith – Shrek The Musical

Lennox Sibisi – Umshado – A Marriage of Heritage

Nhlanhla Mahlangu – TAU

Sonia Thandazile Radebe – Sophiatown & Nhlanhla Mahlangu

Weslee Swain Lauder – Saturday Night Fever

Oscar Buthelezi – iLembe

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE / ARRANGEMENT / ADAPTATION

Charl-Johan Lingenfelder – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Dawid Boverhoff – Altyd In My Drome

Eddie Mathiba – Umshado – A Marriage of Heritage

Heidi Edeling & Francois Steyn – Sneeuwitjie

Neo Muyanga – Turned Away and She Was Gone

Warrick Sony & Brendan Jury – Ubu and the Truth Commission

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Arthur Molepo – Sophiatown

Bryan Schimmel – Annie

Dawid Boverhoff – Altyd In My Drome

Heidi Edeling – Sneeuwitjie

Louis Zurnamer – Singin’ In The Rain

Rowan Bakker – Shrek The Musical

Wessel Odendaal – I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

BEST ENSEMBLE

Egoli

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Sophiatown

Sherlock Holmes

6 Characters in Search of an Author

TAU

Tease!

BEST CUTTING EDGE

AS

I See You

I Turned Away   and She Was Gone

Les Cenci: A play about Artaud

Porselein

TAU

The Year of the Bicycle

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Ameera Patel – Scorched

Ashley Carine de Lange – Bad Jews

Barileng Malebye – Sophiatown

Lesedi Job – A Raisin in the Sun

Renate Stuurman – Suddenly the Storm

Tholani ‘Khoni’ Miya – iLembe

Toni Morkel – Tobacco and the Harmful Effects Thereof

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Alesandro Mendes – iLembe

Brandon Auret – The President’s Man

Craig Jackson – Sherlock Holmes

Katlego Letsholonyana – Egoli

Oli Booth – Bad Jews

Tiaan Slabbert – Porselein

Wilhelm van der Walt – DOP

BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY

Jade Bowers – Scorched

John Kani – The Dying Screams of the Moon

Lara Bye – Oskar en die Pienk Tannie

Marthinus Basson – A Cock and Bull Story

Sibusisi Mamba – 6 Characters in Search of an Author

Sylvaine Strike – DOP

Thabiso T. Rammala – TAU

BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL/REVUE

Elizma Badenhorst – I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Nataniël – Mannequin

Neels Clasen – Altyd In My Drome

Paul Warwick Griffin – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Steven Stead – Shrek The Musical

Weslee Swain Lauder – Sneeuwitjie

BEST SUPPORTING/FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: FEMALE

Delray Halgryn – Annie

Kiruna-Lind Devar – Saturday Night Fever

LJ Nielson – Saturday Night Fever

Taryn-Lee Hudson – Singing In The Rain

Taryn Sudding – Annie

Tessa Denton – Altyd In My Drome

BEST SUPPORTING/FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: MALE

Bongi Mthombeni – Saturday Night Fever

Jacobus van Heerden – Shrek The Musical

Jonathan Roxmouth – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Rory Booth – Shrek The Musical

Stephen Jubber – Annie

Steven van Wyk – Singin’ In The Rain

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: FEMALE

Angela Kilian – Sneeuwitjie

Bethany Dickson – Singin’ In The Rain

Charon Williams Ros – Annie

Jessica Sole – Shrek The Musical

Kate Normington – Robin Hood and the Babes in the wood

Lilla Fleischmann – Annie

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: MALE

Earl Gregory – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Graham Hopkins – Robin Hood and the Babes in the wood

Grant Almirall – Singin’ In The Rain

Lyle Buxton – Shrek The Musical

Neels Clasen – Annie

Willem Botha – Altyd In My Drome

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: FEMALE

Busisiwe Busi Zofuka – Ubu and the Truth Commission

Busisiwe Nyundu – iLembe

Charmaine Weir-Smith – Suddenly the Storm

Ilse Klink – Scorched

Masasa Lindiwe Mbangeni – The Dying Screams of the Moon

Sandra Prinsloo – Oskar en die Pienk Tannie

Tinarie van Wyk Loots – Plant vir my ‘n Boom André

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: MALE

André Odendaal – DOP

Andrew Buckland – Tobacco and the Harmful Effects Thereof

Andries Babalo Mbali – iLembe

Desmond Dube – I See You

Lunga Radebe – I See You

Motlatsi Mafatshe – Mooi Street Moves

Mpho Osei-Tutu – Scorched

BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT

DOP – Written by Retief Scholtz

I See You – Written by Mongiwekhaya Mthombeni

iLembe – Written by Small Ndaba & Phyllis Klotz

Pay Back The Curry! – Written by Mike van Graan

Sherlock Holmes – Written by Robert Fridjhon & Bronwyn Gottwald

Suddenly the Storm – Paul Slabolepszy,

TAU – Written by Thabiso T. Rammala.

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

Bad Jews

I See You

Scorched

6 Characters in Search of an Author

Suddenly the Storm

A Raisin’ in the Sun

Ubu and the Truth Commission

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

Altyd In My Drome

Annie

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Shrek The Musical

Singin’ In The Rain

Umshado – A Marriage of Heritage

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