Didi embraces role as Janet
STARTING just in time for the festive season, Pieter Toerien’s The Rocky
Horror Show comes to the Artscape Theatre today, with a star-studded cast featuring Kate Normington as the Narrator and Craig Urbani as Dr Frank-N-Furter, among others.
Didintle Khunou, 27, who was seen in The Color Purple and is known for her role on popular South African Sotho TV drama, Mamello and guest role in sitcom Single Galz as well as supporting role in The
Throne, plays one of the lead roles as Janet Weiss while Anthony Downing plays Brad Majors.
I meet Didi, as she prefers to be called, between rehearsals at the Artscape Theatre. Didi, originally from Klerksdorp, admits it’s her first time in Cape Town.
She adds she’ll be making history in another first – as a person of colour playing the role of Janet.
The cast is already well into feeling comfortable in rehearsing the popular musical and Didi says: “Initially, I didn’t want to audition, but I was spotted during rehearsals for the Naledis recently (of which she won an award for her role in The Color Purple) and thus got involved.
“It’s been quite a feat for the cast after such a short time to be rehearsing well into the second act of the musical.”
Since The Rocky Horror Show opened in London in 1973, it has become known as the world’s favourite rock ’n’ roll musical, having been performed worldwide for 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into over 20 languages.
“On the surface, you have a fun and crazy show, but what it really does is it speaks about selfacceptance,” says Didi when asked how she relates to the show.
“It carries such a universal theme, and really it’s all about owning and embracing your magnitude and your sexual identity as well.
“In addition, in a world where people are seeing the cracks that abound in contemporary life, musicals are a release and are coming back,” she says.
“The zany and energetic musical tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two clean-cut college kids. They’re on their way to visit their favourite college professor when their car breaks down, and they meet Dr Frank-N-Furter as it all happens outside his house. So begins an adventure they’ll never forget.”
Didi says she’s really looking forward to changing the identity of the wide-eyed student to that of a woman who possesses a strong sexual identity.
“At first, she’s really innocent and then she’s a highly sexualised character,” says Didi, adding: “I’m really going to have fun with it!”
The rest of the talented cast includes Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff, Marlee van der Merwe as Magenta/Usherette, Stefania du Toit as Columbia, Zak Hendrikz as Dr Scott/Eddie, Jarryd Nurden as Rocky.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the hit show features many of the famous musical numbers that most people can sing along to, including Sweet Transvestite,
Damn It, Janet and, needless to say, Time Warp.
■ Richard O’Brien’s original
The Rocky Horror Show opens at the Artscape today and will then be on at the Teatro Montecasino in Johannesburg from January 17 until March 1.
All bookings at theatre box offices 021 438 3301 and 011 511 1818 and Computicket.