Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Polar opposites’ crazy weekend
Kramer’s adaptation of romantic comedy to run at the Fugard
DURING January, it is customary in Cape Town to still wish each other “happy new year” or the short-form, “compliments”. Embrace the upbeat spirit and check out the romcom Happy New Year (A Play With Songs),
which will be on at The Fugard Studio Theatre (February 19 to March 16), starring Dean Balie and Bianca Flanders.
The production has piqued interest but let’s explain: David Kramer has not written the play.
He adapted it from Midsummer (A
Play With Songs), by David Greig and Gordon McIntyre, which was first staged 10 years ago at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival and then at The Tricycle Theatre in London.
Direction is by Nicolas Kent, former artistic director of The Tricycle Theatre. Kent saw the play in Edinburgh in 2008.
Kramer said: “Nicolas knows Cape Town well and he mentioned that the play would work well in a South African context.
“He asked if I would be interested in adapting – if he could obtain the rights. After the rights were secured, Kramer worked on the adaptation and Eric Abraham and The Fugard Theatre subsequently came on board as producers.”
Kent has a long association with Kramer, going back to when Kent invited Kramer to stage Kat & the Kings at The Tricycle Theatre.
Kramer explained his approach to adapting Greig and McIntyre’s play: “It takes place over (a) New Year’s weekend – starting on a Friday evening and carrying on until the Monday.
“In the (Scottish) production, the action is centred around a midsummer’s weekend, in June. That is not something we can really relate to so I set it over a New Year’s Eve weekend.
“It is a romantic comedy – two unlikely people who meet on this crazy weekend as they make a trip through Cape Town, over three days. David Greig highlighted recognisable places in Edinburgh.
“I have done the same and included places such as The Company’s Garden and Table Mountain. It starts off in La Parada in Bree Street.
“The characters are in their mid35s. She’s a divorce lawyer and has recently come out of a relationship with a married guy.
“He is selling dodgy goods – stolen goods – for dodgy people. The two characters transpose very well.
“I took out Scottish references but I stuck with what was written and re-imagined characters as a Cape Town couple: speaking Cape Town English, in settings that we know. It is a play with songs – not a musical. It is sweet, funny, quirky.”
The play has been described as an ode to Edinburgh, and with the Cape version? Kramer: “Yes, it is an ode to Cape Town. For me, Cape Town is like another character.
“When the project began, there were no plans to stage Happy New Year at the beginning of the year but The Fugard Theatre was able to schedule the production now – as we are ushering in the new year.”
Balie, who plays the dodgy salesperson, mused about his character. “I play Dan, a car salesman and smalltime criminal who has a wild night out in Cape Town with Lee-André (played by Flanders).
“They are polar opposites and have no reason to end up being together, but they learn that they are not so different after all.
“Dan did not have the same upbringing as Lee-André, which makes him rougher around the edges and his decision-making skills not so noble. In the end, for him it’s about survival and making it in a world where you’re never quite sure who to trust.”
Regarding the play tapping into a contemporary narrative of the thirtysomething experience in a city, he added: “This play for me comments on the human aspect of what it means to be the thirtysomething person that is supposed to have his/her life in order but still struggles to find happiness, a sense of belonging, learning how to trust, and finding love.
“Our version is in a Cape Town setting, but the message is universal. It applies to everyone that has felt a sense of not belonging, but is trying to fit into a world of misfits, while pretending to be normal.
“It comments on the class stereotypes and how status can contribute – and falsely at times – to one person’s view of another.”
Happy New Year (A Play With
Songs) is on from February 19 to March 16, Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm with matinees at 4pm on Saturdays. Age advisory of 14 years with parental guidance (SL). Tickets are R160-R220. Book at The Fugard on 021 461 4554 or at www.thefugard.com
It applies to everyone that has felt a sense of not belonging but is trying to fit into a world of misfits
Dean Balie
Actor