The Louw Down: November 2014

by our Editor

So is it just me, or does it feel much later in the year with all the malls and shopping centres already coloured up with Christmas decorations? I guess it is because time flies when you are having fun.

I also hope that time will fly for Oscar Pistorius, who we all saw on the Small Screen got sentenced on the Oscar Pistorius Trial Channel. This channel that was produced by Carte Blanche on DSTV’s event channel 199, was an initiative which I thought was of world class standard. Not only was it entertaining, but also educational, and the live Law and Order SA, on our telly. Well done to DSTV, Carte Blanche, and all involved. I know it is an old joke by now, but you all deserve an Oscar.

So, by the time I am writing this, Idols fans are still in shock about the demise of Musa, who got voted of on Sunday. This means, there are 5 to go, and the pressure is mounting for the final on 23 November 2014.

Let me take you through the month of October I had. It appears that Sunday afternoons are becoming more and more the day for Productions to have their opening shows. Each of my October Sundays was converted to Theatre Fundays, which made me miss quite a few live Idols shows at the State theatre. And with the opening of The Rocky Horror show on the 23^rd of November, I might just as well miss the final.  What was exciting for me, is that in my 9th year of running Stage and Screen, and following all the productions he brings to SA Stages, I finally got to meat the Theatre King of South Africa, Pieter Toerien.  This man, deserves the highest gratitude and respect, for what he does for the Theatre Industry in our country.

First up was The Vertical hour by Sir David Hare. Starring in this mind-thrilling drama, was SA’s Veteran legend Michael Richards, Richard Gau, who were also seen together in Vanya and Mercia and Sonja and Spike earlier this year. The story is typically the battle between conservative minds, versus the liberal ones, which throws certain facts at the audience, which will just tickle that sense to think about it later again. It runs in the Pieter Toerien Studio in Montecasino, till the 9^th of November.

The next week, we were entertained by Mark Lottering, in his new one man show, “This is Captain Lottering Speaking”. Unlike his normal stand-up shows we have seen the last few years. This production is packed with the best of Lottering’s characters, some whom are favourites of many, and some, which were frown upon by the more conservative aunties in the audience. This run in the Pieter Toerien theatre, will also close on the 9^th.

The highlight of the month, and also justifiably the deserving occupant of our “Production of the month” slot, was War Horse. After I was blown away during the opening performance, that I had to get some tickets for my parents, only to use them as an excuse for me to see it again. It’s one of those productions, where the any words to describe the magic on stage, are just not good enough to justify every element involved in Stage Productions.

The immediate sense of awe after the show was, understandably, overwhelmed by the Horses. The brilliance of puppeteering was displayed, and enough to push each audience member’s imagination into auto-mode to take them into that realm, where the horses were horses, and not man-operated puppets. What got my skin to turn into gooseflesh all over, was when theatre-goers audibly sniffed a few tears away, when the horses were killed and shot during battle. It proved to me how the whole production consumed each and every member in the audience, to have them part of the scene portrait on stage.

ut while seeing War Horse the second time, I got myself to look past the magical creatures of the Handspring Puppet Company, to concentrate on the rest of the production. I asked myself whether War Horse would be classified as a Musical, or as a Play?  Who really cares what the real definition of these genres are, because with the innovative direction the Theatre Industry of  today is moving towards worldwide, I think a plain, traditional definitions will totally take a lot of the credit away from that production in its whole.   War Horse is of course making use of a Narrator to tell the story. Like in a play!  But what I thought was sheer brilliance, was the way it was done. Who would have thought that a male, Irish Baritone voice, sometimes accompanied by his accordion, would have such an emotional effect on the story, and the audience of the show? This role, played by Bob Fox, was without any doubt in my mind, a critical role in the overall emotion and feel of the War Horse Theatre story. The tone of his voice, the empathy and emotion in his songs, as well as the well-directed entrance of Fox into and out of  each scene, was in my view, strategically executed to perfection.

 

 

But would this musical narration, classify the show as a musical? Maybe yes, but if I want to put it my own genre, War Horse was a Theatre Movie. It was not a play, it was not a musical, and it was a real-time, full-size movie, happing live on stage. The music score was as perfect as would have been suited for any motion picture, and the element of imagination of each audience member was enough to cancel out all traditional elements of a theatre production, to actually make this production a one-of-a-kind type of show.  I really hope that more producers and writers will be inspired to bring us many more productions like this.

With today’s theatre and entertainment potential, we really have no boundaries or limitations to produce more of these productions. It does not even have to be very complicated and too technically advanced to be impressive. In War Horse, the lighting, originally designed by Paule Constable was simple, dynamic, and the element for me which couldn’t have been left out. It is a fact that Lighting can make or break a show, and even add to the Wow and Awesomeness of any stage production, but the skill and eye for the overall message of the War Horse production’s lighting design, was a crucial element in making the puppet horses on stage, appear real. This for me, was by far the cleverest, and most technically-skilled the lighting design I have ever seen in a theatre production, besides the modern tech laser and electronic lighting shows.

I can carry on like this for a lot more, but why don’t you go experience this for yourself. You have till 30 November to see it on the Teatro stage in Johannesburg, after which the Horses will be transported to the Artscape Theatre in the Mother City, till January the 4^th, next year.

For the upcoming month of November, men with moustaches, or without them, can treat their special persons to a lot of worth-while theatre productions around Johannesburg. Not even are they proper productions, but the variety are to such an extent, that you would just want to go see them all.

War Horse will occupy the Theatre for the whole of November, after which the production heritage, will move from Brit to Boer, with the very successful musical Liefling, to be the first Afrikaans Musical to hit this Montecasino Theatre. If you are a girl, the appeal of Bobby van Jaarsveld will most likely tickle your urge to go see it, but if you are not, the music in itself, ranging from old Afrikaans Classics, to some modernly arranged songs, will make you enjoy this show just as much. Liefling is starting on 12 December 2014 at the Teatro, and if you are lucky, enter Stage and Screen’s competition, where one of our readers can win a double ticket to the opening night performance.

Straight from Cape Town, comes the not so straight Frank-N-Furter with the whole Rocky Horror Cast, to enter a second season in the Pieter Toerien Theatre. This will start on the 14^th of November, and will run through till next year, 1 February. This is surely a production that will revive the 80’s but also provide its sheer enjoyment of just sitting back, relax, and then be entertained up to the point when sitting back is just too boring. Want to see it, enter our Competition and stand a chance of winning some tickets.

You know its Christmas time, when the Joburg Theatre is currently running with the Annual Janice Honeyman’s Pantomime, and this year, it will be Peter pan. With Craig Urbani, and Bongi Mthombeni, to name only a few. The Panto is always a highlight of my yearly calendar, because it just brings out the kid in me, who wants to forget all my trouble for those few hours. It is once again filled with funny and satirical scenes, which will give totally different meaning to some songs you might have liked during the year. The tongue-in-the-cheek script, is also guaranteed not to disappoint. Apparently, there will be some 3D elements, and a Helicopter in this year’s show. I don’t know more. Peter Pan is starting on 5 November, and will run until 28 December 2014.

If I quickly have to move away from the theatre stage, to focus our attention on the screen part of our passion here, I have to highlight the big screen first. Leading Lady, the new Afrikaans Movie, ok, with a whole lot of English in it, will start filling the silver screens on the 28^th of November. Starring international actress Katy McGrath, and Ally McBeal star Gil Bellows, surrounded by a full cast of South African talent, led by Bok van Blerk and Brumilda van Rensburg, this is surely the biggest SA produced movie in my view. Not to mention the fact that the film has been bought, and will also run in the United States of America, during their Summer Holidays next year. I will see Leading Lady at the South African Premier on the 13^th of November, so read the Louw down again next month, for my thoughts.

The small screen will also explode with more Edging entertainment on MNet Edge, channel 102. I have PVR’ed some of those shows, and made some time between my studies to watch some. Surely not for the feint hearted, but enough gripping shows to watch them all. But you must make some time to click back to Mnet, channel 101, on Sunday 23 November, when the winner of the 10^th South African Idol will be announced. This is the first conclusion of 2014’s reality TV run, with the last one being the Masterchef final in December.

In my self-disappointed acknowledgement, if there is something like that, I have to write the following. Last month, I promised a new feature, called the SA Music section. I am not making any excuses, but… ok, I am indeed making excuses… With Stage and Screen being run as a part time hobby for all involved here, the commitment from all involved with Stage and Screen lies first with the Salary-earning jobs, and studies. Therefore, sometimes, the exciting prospects and promises we make, is not that easy to deliver, and to realise our dreams. We will however work as hard as we can, to get that feature designed and live as soon as possible.

I trust that you enjoyed reading the Louw Down on what you can find on our Stage and Screen site for November. Remember that your comments and feedback are always welcome. I will write my little piece again at the end of November, when we can look at all the entertainment available, for those who will have a Gauteng Christmas and New Year.

Curtains up….

 

Louw Mulder