Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Get in on act for New Year
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TONIGHT is Chanukah (The Festival of Lights) and Christmas Eve. Whatever you believe in, we wish you well over the festive season. May 2017 be peaceful and profitable.
Most theatres are closed tonight but New Year’s Eve is a big deal – with entertainment, after-parties and drinks. It’s not just about seeing a show but the experience of welcoming in the New Year in the safe, creative and energised space of the theatre.
With New Year falling on a Saturday night – yes, it’s next Saturday – booking is essential. It goes beyond FOMO – “fear of missing out”. If you don’t book, it’s likely to be more like OMO – “oh! missed out.”
The Kalk Bay Theatre’s Au Revoir and Cathy and the Trolley Dollies at Gate 69 in Bree Street are sold out; not one seat available.
A few single tickets are left for District Six – Kanala at the Fugard Theatre (starts 9pm). Grab them if you can. Booking is strong for the hysterically funny play, Bad Jews in the Fugard Studio (starts 8pm). Bubbly will be served in the Fugard foyer after the show.
Weather permitting, the roof top bar (fabulous views) will be open. Au Revoir’s run has been extended to January 14. Cathy and the Trolley Dollies is on until February 4 and Kanala runs until February 26, so there is still time to see them in the New Year.
Every year, the Baxter becomes a party venue with later starting times for all shows. This year, the fab lineup features: Whistle Stop, Alistair Izobell’s Kaapse Jol and Nik Rabinowitz’ Fortyfied. Tickets include an after-party with live music, bubbly or juice, a balloon drop and countdown.
A full-on party is also on offer for Annie at Artscape. Starts at 9pm. Afterwards, there will be schmoozing with the cast on the piazza.
Bubbly and snacks will be served and Crooked – a blues, jazz and rock band – will perform covers of songs by artists and groups like Elvis, The Beatles, Guns ’ n Roses and the Rolling Stones.
Also on at Artscape (in the Arena), at 8.30pm is the last performance of TopDogSA – a musical homage to Khoi and San icons.
This outfit, headed by Camillo Lombard plays Nama Jazz – a new term for “a fusion between indigenous melodies, rhythms and jazz chord progressions.”
Tickets are only R70. Before heading to Annie or TopDogSA, catch a free concert on the Artscape piazza at 6pm with the Boarding Boys Sporting Club – an 80 member choir. See on the Boards for the free Artscape Christmas Eve concert tonight.
At Theatre on the Bay, after his superb show, Laughing Matters (starts 9pm), Alan Committie will join his audience in the foyer and will count down to 2017.
He may or may not don his famous red Lycra leotard. There will be bubbly and “a smackerel” (no idea what that is). Dining available upstairs, in the Sidedish Theatre Bistro.
If you want something decidedly adult and not for the kidlets (not that Alan Committie or Nik Rabinowitz is for the small fry, oh no), head to Alexander Upstairs Theatre & Bar in Strand Street.
Two shows are on: Single Minded (7pm) and Daneel van der Walt’s award winning cabaret, Dani & the Lion (9pm). The after party is definitely not family friendly.
Single Minded is a new sketch comedy show – written and directed by Jon Keevy. The performers are Kiroshan Naidoo and Kathleen Stephens. The show follows on Keevy’s successful Dirty Words – urban stories for adults.
Talking of which, in the production pictures, Naidoo’s chest is festooned with star shaped nipple caps – reminiscent of apartheid era nipple caps to satisfy the censors. What’s the story?
Naidoo says that in this sketch, he plays a Chippendale type dancer/stripper at a bachelorette party who has broken up with his dancing partner. Sounds fun.
Naidoo enthuses: “It’s a dirty, sexy, witty comedy that will tickle your senses and leave you laughing.”
For the Baxter, Fugard and Artscape – book at Computicket at 0861 915 8000/www.computicket.com
To book for the Kalk Bay Theatre, see www. kalkbaytheatre. co.za/021 788 7257.
Bookings for Gate 69, on www. gate69. co. za. Alexander Upstairs bookings at https://alexanderbar. co.za or call 021 300 1088.
It’s a bit complicated for NYE bookings at Alexander: Tickets are R90/R110 for Single Minded – party not included.
Dani & The Lion tickets are R300/R400 and includes the party – ie show and party. If you only want to party and not see either show, that will cost R250/R350.