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).

The post Aunty Merle, The Musical appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Deur Louw Mulder

Vroeg in die openingstoneel, ontmoet die kyker die ‘n asemrowende mooi sonsopkoms oor die Namakwalandse berge, maar so raak hierdie natuurskoon vinnig bitter-soet as dit die agtergrond skep vir ‘n ma wat lewe gee aan haar baba, en diè net daar los. Die kyker kom aandagtig tot die idee van die tema geroep, en so word Vaselinetjie gebore.

Dit was my eerste indrukke by die Premiere van Corne van Rooyen se nuwe Afrikaanse rolprent, Vaselinetjie, wat onlangs in Johannesburg gehou is. Koud, is dalk ‘n goeie beskrywing van die voorstellende tonele, maar soos ons heldin groei, en deur die bestek van die film haarself met haar eie identiteit vereenselwig, so verander hierdie koue tot ‘n gevoel van warmte teen die slot van die fliek.

Vaselinetjie is gabaseer op die boek van Anoeschka van Meck, en vir die silwerdoek aangepas deur van Rooyen en sy vrou Renè. Die tema en storielyn van die verhaal word eers duidelik verklaarbaar heel na die einde toe, na die kyker op ‘n tuimeltrein van emosiesies gestuur is. Vir my, al is die gemiddelde ouderdomme van die karakters diè van skooltieners, dink ek immers die ideale teikenmark vir Vaselinetjie, is jong- na middeljarige volwassenes.

Onderliggende temas in Vaselinetjie se verhaal, spreek allerdaagse verskynsels aan, soos diè van selfmoord, fisiese en emosionele boelies, rasse konflik op skoolvlak, die vernedering en verwerping van ouerlose, onskuldige kinders, en selfs die onnodige nagevolge van jong mense wat hulle rug op negatiewe en verkeerde groepsdruk draai. Dis dan wanneer ons as ouer mense op hierdie wip-waentjie rit terugflitse kry na waar onsself dalk in so ‘n situasie was, waar die sentiment, en kern van Vaselinetjie se storie, raak begin vat. Vir die jong span, is die les uit Vaselinetjie se verhaal juis dit, dat eendag die son weer sal skyn, want “Ek is perfek, God maak nie Foute nie.”

Die manier hoe Vaselinetjie vervaardig is, het vir my suksesvol daarin geslaag om die emosies, hartseer, en tog soms prettige milieus van al die karakters in die storie by die kyker te laat aanklank vind. Die jong mensies wat verantwoordelik was om elke karakter se persoonlikheid aan die kyker oor te dra, was verfrissend, en oulik. Nicole Bond, Ashley Hawla, Anchen Du Plessis, Daniah de Villiers en Rowan-Raine Pretorius onder andere, doen juis dit.

Waardig om te noem, is die welslae wat van Rooyen met die tiener stêrre gehad het, wat in hulle beurt weer verantwoordelik was om die storie uit te sien. Marguerite van Eeden het die rol van Vaselinetjie vertolk, langsaan Melita Steyn en Elani Dekker, wat hul eie karakters se skoene vol gestaan het. Gesoute akteurs, wat in Vaselinetjie meer as ondersteunende rolle op tree, sluit in Royston Stoffels, Karin van der Laag, David Mello met ‘n baie indrukwekkende vertolking van ‘n swart berader, asook die diep, veelsydige en talentvolle Shaleen Surtie-Richards.

Maar dan was daar die drie, seker omdat ek myself kon vereenselwig met elkeen van hulle se storie, en die effektiewe, nog been-skrapende wyse waarop hulle hulle storie vertel het. Marise Loots speel die ouer Albie, en met haar pop, is sy die onskuld van self. Ouer Killer, Vaselinetjie se beste vriendin, word gespeel deur Elzet Nel. Die hartseer en tragiese karakter wat Nel moet speel, het juis diepte gegee aan hoe ernstig die gebeure in die hele verhaal is.

Tog moet ek die spel uitsonder wat my die meeste beindruk het, en dit is diè van ervare jong talent, Arno Greeff, wat die rol van Texan, ook Vaselinetjie se kêrel vertolk. Deur Greeff se spel, kan ‘n mens Texan se emosies dadelik identifseer; van die oppervlakkige breker op skool, tot die diep, emosionele letsels wat deur lewensgebeurtenisse al diep gesny het. Dan praat mens nog nie van die talent wat nodig is om ‘n swembadtoneel in slegs ‘n wit onderbroek met styl te kan oordra nie…

Met die rolverdeling, het daar niks geskort nie, en is dit duidelik dat die 6-maande lange passie in die proses waar van Rooyen self sy akteurs gekies het, vrugte afgewerp het. Elke jong mens vertel sy deeltjie van die groter storie, en soms is dit nie iets wat ons as ouer teaterganger wil sien nie, maar dan sien ons Vaselinetjie terugkeer na waar sy haar storie begin het, net meer ervare, meer volwasse, die keer, met ‘n opregte glimlag, oor wie sy geleer het sy eintlik is.

Vaselinetjie begin regoor Suid Afrika draai, op Vrydag, 22 September, 2017.

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