Executive Producer Bernard Jay is proud to announce the completion of casting for South Africa’s first ‘non-replica’, professional production of the legendary disco musical, Saturday Night Fever. “We have an absolutely fabulous, world class company of all South African artists,” says Jay. “The crème-de-la-crème of the amazing pool of musical theatre talent we have in this country.”

Leading the company on stage at the Opera Theatre of the Pretoria State Theatre from September 13th will be Daniel Buys as Tony Manero, Natasha Van Der Merwe as Stephanie Mangano, Matthew Berry as Bobby C, L J Neilson as Annette, Craig Urbani as Frank Manero, Charmaine Weir-Smith as Flo Manero, Bongi Mthombeni as Monty and Kiruna-Lind Devar as Pauline. Also featured in the all-star cast are Joanna Abatzoglou, Cameron Botha, Vanessa Brierley, Clint Lesch, Londiwe Dhlomo, Keaton Ditchfield, Toni Jean Erasmus, Devon Flemmer, Zane Gillion, Nurit Graff, Nathan Kruger, Sebe Leotlela, Brandon Lindsay, Phumi Mncayi, Raquel Munn, Mark Richardson, Phillip Schnetler and Steven van Wyk.

Winning the highly coveted role of the iconic Tony Manero – made legendary in the 1977 movie starring John Travolta – Daniel Buys (Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, West Side Story) declared “my inner Bee Gee just came out at the auditions!”.

Saturday Night Fever is presented by The South African State Theatre and Bernard Jay. Direction is by award-winning Greg Homann (A Voice I Cannot Silence), choreography is by Weslee Swain Lauder, musical direction by Rowan Bakker (this year’s Naledi Award Best Musical Director for Sister Act), with set and lighting design by Denis Hutchinson, costume design by Sarah Roberts and sound design by Trevor Peters.

The original stage musical of Saturday Night Fever was based on Nik Cohn’s 1975 New York Magazine article Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night and the 1977 film. The famous Bee Gees score – one of the best-selling movie soundtracks of all time – includes Stayin’ Alive, Disco Inferno, Night Fever, More Than a Woman, If I Can’t Have You, Nights on Broadway, How Deep is Your Love and Tragedy. The State Theatre’s production is a new version of the show adapted by American writers Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti: “We went back to the screenplay and edited it down,” says Cercone. “The songs needed to carry the emotional journey.”

Saturday Night Fever previews at the Opera Theatre from September 13th, with its official Opening Night set for September 16th. The season runs until October 9th. Tickets are on sale now at Computicket from R150. Visit www.computicket.com.

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by Louw Mulder

For Joburgers it may be a long drive to Pretoria, but Bernard Jay’s production of Saturday Night Fever will be worth the trip.

This uniquely staged production of the Paramount / RSO film featuring John Travolta, sets the scene for a disco-filled experience, featuring some of South Africa’s top theatre performers, and a creative team with numerous awards to complete the fever.

What impressed me the most about this production, was the set and lightning design, by multi-award winner Denis Hutchinson. No doubt that Hutchinson will be nominated for yet another few awards for the work he has done on Saturday Night Fever. He produced what I think is the most innovative and practical set I have seen, with the lighting design bringing the previous century’s disco era right in front of you. I am convinced that this set design will be setting the trend for future theatre designs.

Set in late July, 1977, Saturday Night Fever tells the story about Tony Manero, played by the very talented Daniel Buys. Buys came into the spotlight when he reached the finals of South African Idols, after which he proclaimed the sky as his limit. With a few theatre productions under his belt, like Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys and West Side Story, Buys held nothing back with this role – even showing-off his well-defined body, during a full costume change on stage.

Not shy of any credit, are the rest of the 30-member cast, under the dance captaincy of Vanessa Brierley. Saturday Night Fever features a diverse, and purely South African Cast, with names like Singin’ in the Rain’s Steven van Wyk, Aspoestertjie’s Clint Lesch, and Starlight Express’s Bongi Mthombeni, to name a few.  The gorgeous LJ Neilson, and perfectly cast Natasha van der Merwe, were amongst the fairer sex, fighting for Manero’s love.

Other names in this very diverse cast, include Matthwy Berry, Cameron Botha, Londiwe Dhlomo, Nurit Graff, Nathan Kruger, Phumi Mncayi, Toni Jean Erasmus, Charmaine Weir-Smith and Mark Richardson, to name only some.

But the performance of the night, must go to Craig Urbani for playing the duel role of Manero’s dad (Frank Manero), as well as Pete, the very camp and flamboyant gym instructor. Urbani’s experience was evident through his versatility on stage, and the demeanour he adapted complimented the role of the actors in the lead, as effectively as one can expect.   His role also contributed immensely to the humour element, which makes this role perfect for him.

Saturday Night Fever is known for its dancing, which makes the work of choreographer, Wesley Swain Lauder, a daunting task. Nevertheless, Lauder created steps and moves that got the whole audience on their feet, energetically executed by the cast he was given to work with. It was just sometimes a little difficult to focus on the main events on stage, with so many things happening at the same time. A busy stage tells a full story, but I think during one or two instances, it overshadowed the leads.

What made up for this minor piece of criticism, is the rest of the production. Award-winning MD, Rowan Bakker showed why he can be seen as one of SA’s leading Musical Directors.  Bakker, who recently lifted his baton in Sweeney Todd and Sister Act, took this score under his direction, creating the necessary sounds, energizing everything happening on stage, with his 10-piece band in the pit.  The sound design of Trevor Peters, Sarah Roberts designing the costumes, and Greg Homann as director, completed the creative team, adding fever to a Saturday night.

Overall, this production is a feel-good, sit back and enjoy musical, created to entertain. Saturday Night Fever is a Mirror-ball of South-Africa’s finest, reflecting all the good reasons why we can be proud of our own.

Saturday Night Fever will run at the South African State Theatre, till October the 9^th. Tickets are available at Computicket, but Stage and Screen is proud to give away 10 sets of tickets, for Saturday, 1 October. You can enter here.

Photos by Sanmari Marais

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It is one of those theatre productions that makes you leave the Teatro with a smile, and the tune of an old classic stuck in your head. With all departments and components of Musical Theatre coming together perfectly, I can summarise Pieter Toerien’s production of Singin’ in the Rain, as a delightful, feel-good Musical, as showcased by the cream of South African Talent.

I need to start this raving review with the Melodic Master-tunes from the live band. I am hesitant to call it an orchestra, because the true classical sounds of the Swinging Big Band Era was exactly that. The ten-piece band played under the musical direction of Louis Zurnamer, who also conducted the orchestra of Phantom of the Opera, a few years ago.

The variations and style of the arrangements were so complex, that this score is seen as one of the more difficult ones in Musical Theatre; so says Resident Director, Anton Luitingh. The score consists of various genres, and the changing of musical instruments in very short timeframes, adds to the challenging tasks of such a phenomenal band.

Luitingh told Stage and Screen that Johannesburg is seeing a well-polished production, after it travelled the world, and ran in Cape Town before opening at the Teatro. This was witnessed the night I was privileged to see the show. Grant Almirall, Bethany Dickson and Steven van Wyk, play the three lead roles, and the chemistry  between the three of them, is contributing hugely to the success of their characters.

I have something good to say about each and every individual cast member; From Richard Gau as the policeman, Jarryd Nurden as the workman, Darren Greef as Clyde, Raquel Munn as Mary Margaret, this list can go on and on, but each member of this sexy and good looking cast, played their part in a company that totally gels together, and holistically contributes to the feel-good energy the show sets free.

Personally, the performance of the night, went to Taryn-Lee Hudson, who plays the role of big movie star Lina Lamont. The character, humour and personality of Lamont, is mainly captured in the script, but for me, no-one could have done a better job of acting the role of Lamont, as Hudson. Hudson’s performance was energetic, expressive, and emotional when it needed to be, and I would argue that the comedy element of Singin’ in the Rain would not have been half as effective as what it was, without the fleur and Je ne Sais Qua of Hudson.

The singing and acting were as professional as can be expected from a Pieter Toerien Production, but the dancing was extraordinary. Under the leadership of dance captain, Duane Alexander, who also gloats with a world class resume under his belt, the dancing of Singin’ in the Rain completes the wow-factor that moves the second half… and this does by no means exclude the dancing of Almirall and van Wyk throughout the show.

The lighting- and set design did not fall behind the high standards of the whole production, and much is still to be raved about the real rain, that brought that element of reality to the show. Almirall is giving a memorable performance of the title-song, while dancing and singing in the rain, which would probably be the defining moment of this show. Oh, before I forget, if you get your tickets in the first four rows, you might get a little wet…

Sitting in the audience, watching the show, you will realise the cast is as Fit as a Fiddle, as if you Stepped out of a Dream, with Beautiful Girls who Make ’em laugh, and even Moses Supposes that the Lucky Star was Meant for me, as no matter What’s Wrong with me, would make me start Singin’ in the Rain… Would you?  A show totally deserving of a full-house standing ovation on opening night.

The rain will keep falling at the Teatro at Montecasino until the 13^th of March, so don’t miss this feel-good Musical. Stage and Screen is also giving away tickets to Singin’ in the Rain, compliments of Pieter Toerien Productions… just click here, or visit our Competition Page.

Good Morning Good Morning, to you!

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