And they’re off! Yep, it’s true – applications for the 2010 NAF Fringe are open. The Fringe Information Book can be downloaded here, and the registration form itself downloaded here.
Remember, it’s 15 Days of Ama!zing next year, 20 June – 4 July 2010. Applications close 15 January. It’s a fact.
And…go!
This one’s a beeg bolt of love, wishes, and congratulations to Janni and Luke Younge, who last week brought their daughter into the world. Mazeltof, guys. May her life be long, happy and adventurous. All love from the clowns.
I’d been hearing a lot of good things about …miskien and am really glad I got to see it last night ‘cos they all true. Performed by Gideon Lombard and Albert Pretorius and directed by Tara Notcutt, and created by the three, it’s a really beautiful piece on friendship and loneliness and trying to bridge the gap between what we want to say to significant people and what they don’t want to hear.
Ostensibly it’s the story of two guy friends Cormack (Pretorius) and Leighton (Lombard) stuck in dead end jobs and dealing with a strong feminine absence – either in the form of a nagging girlfriend or an array of sexual conquests. This quickly becomes suspected of being a bit of chest-thumping and covering up for a deep-seated loneliness that the two feel. There are other things at play, and feelings that will alter the course of friendship, and we are set for a collision course with the inevitable confrontation of these.
This makes for an enthralling journey, and the pace and tension is mostly kept on a sharp edge as we veer between the outwardly bravado and the inwardly intimate. Pretorius is all bullish, making a meal of the former, while Lombard embodies the latter with delicacy and restraint. Sure, there are moments when the show careens towards the stereotype line, and sometimes the plight of the two (particularly the ennui of the relationship and job) sits awkwardly on two fresh-faced actors, but for the most part they’re a great stage partnership and the story keeps us enthralled. Notcutt shows a decisive directorial hand – concise, clear, controlled, but most importantly empowering her performers to let rip with the material, and this they do with aplomb. It’s beautiful work, perhaps reaching its heartbreaking pinnacle in the final scene, where the words have broken down and the final few minutes relish in the theatre’s great gift of time and presence. Lekker stuff. And hopefully we’ll see lots more from them.
This is fresh independent theatre with balls, a great display of young up and coming talent. Check it at The Intimate ‘til Saturday, but I reckon you’d better book soon – the house was practically sold out and has been for most of the season. Do it.
And keep an eye on these guys. If …miskien is anything to go by, they have a great career ahead. Awesome.
So round here we’re gearing up to go the this year’s Witness Hilton Arts Festival in KZN. We’ve enjoyed good successes at Hilton over the years, with shows like Water Pockets, GUMBO, and last year’s associated The Dog’s Bollocks.
This year, the giant-killing Pictures of You is pulled out of its resting and back on a plane, with great excitement and anticipation. We have 3 shows at the festival:
All you good folk in KZN – come on down! This is finally your chance to get to see Pictures on your home turf.
There’s quite an interesting line-up too, with Greig Coetzee coming out of theatre hibernation to revive his classics: White Men with Weapons, The Blue Period of Milton van der Spuy, and Johnnie Boskak is feeling funny. There’s also Kickstart’s Wit that I missed at NAF this year and apparently kicks ass with the sublime Clare Mortimer heading that one up. Jenine Collecott’s High Diving is also on, which is awesome ‘cos I also missed that at NAF and it was regarded by many as the jewel of the festival. What else? Nick Pauling and Scott Sparrow journey with us from Cape Town with Zoo Story. Why so little Cape Town stuff there this year? Hmmm. That’s not great. There’s the deliciously obscene sounding Molly Bloom, with Jennifer Steyn headlining the adaptation of the last chapter of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Also apparently a gem. Oh oh oh, and a new piece by Sylvaine Strike – Pregnant Pause. That’s always a treat and a look forward to, and good to have her back making theatre! And lastly, the intriguing sounding Mariner’s Tale – a short ride through the classic poem told with puppets, mime, masks, music…in its own tent. Sounds a bit like the delightful Alchemist’s Heart created by Jaqueline Dommisse and Peter Hayes a few year’s back. But hey – intriguing nevertheless.
Will keep our adventures all up to date from here, the Conspiracy HQ.
