It’s a goofy steal – ‘Twee Vir die Prys van Een’
TWEE VIR DIE PRYS VAN EEN. Directed by Neels Clasen, with Hannes Muller, Lizz Meiring and Michelle Botha. At Theatre on the Bay, Tuesday to Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 5pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm. STEYN DU TOIT reviews.
Twee Vir die Prys van Een (The Decorator).
Translated into Afrikaans by Wim Vorster and set during the 1970s, what Hannes Muller’s character, Walter, is bargaining on at the start of this play, is a nice week spent freeloading at the expense of someone else.
But what this hapless opportunist will receive instead includes a broken sculpture, several sunken chairs, and two ‘cherries’ with enough fight and desperation between them to put even the most aggressive Bles Bridges groupie to shame.
How it boils down to all the insanity is, of course, part of the fun of experiencing any farce. However, for the purposes of this review, I will add that the majority of the plot revolves around the wife of the owner of the house, Mercia (Lizz Meiring), returning home a day early.
Fuelled by a desire to relive the glory days he never had, and in order to “make up” for his laziness and incompetence on the job thus far, Walter then graciously offers to play the part of Mercia’s husband later that evening.
Why? Because this wouldn’t be a farce if the wife of the man Mercia is having an affair with didn’t also show up howling and waving a hammer within the story’s first few minutes. Come to think of it, it’s a little bit like 7de Laan every second Tuesday.
Promising to return later that evening to “reveal all” to Mercia’s own husband, Janie (Michelle Botha) then stomps off like a marching band, while the remainder of the first act sees Walter and Mercia get into their “characters” and rehearse their “performance” for later that evening.
This way everyone wins. Walter through getting to act, Mercia through avoiding her (real) husband’s wrath and Janie through letting off steam and for believing that at least both marriages are now ruined.
Performed against Nadine Minnaar’s era-appropriate set and Kosie Smit’s inviting lighting design, it’s great to see the cast having so much fun. All three established stage and television professionals have a long list of achievements between them, and their job here is to deliberately appear amateurish and over-the-top.
After a moving performance in Ismail Mahomed’s drama, Cheaper Than Roses at The Baxter last year, it’s always entertaining to see Meiring don a more comedic wig. Blinking non-stop, scurrying around on her pumps and twirling around in a series of gaudy outfits; she let’s her ‘onderrok’ thoroughly hang out. And that’s before the Valium kicks in!
Well-known for his Groet die Grotman shows, Muller also brings a dedicated goofiness to the role of Walter. There’s a bit of old-school slapstick in his mannerisms and routine, and it should appeal to fans of The Three Stooges, or Laurel and Hardy.
Not least is Botha, who brings the kind of a butch Afrikaans chick to her character – all too familiar with anyone who’s ever been near Pretoria (or Strand during December). Embracing her Janie with just the right amount of sneering, hissing and cackling, she makes for the perfect panto villain.
Twee Vir die Prys van Een is a production recommended for those who enjoy the distinct sense of humour employed by farce as a theatrical genre. Exaggerated characters, overacting, running gags, door slamming, mistaken identity, sexual innuendo and choreographed happenstance; this is the kind of thing that’s either your cup of tea, or it is not.
That said, for native Afrikaans speakers there is an undeniable quality and high standard when listening to the dialogue. And while admittedly some of the play’s 30 year-old jokes and sexism are seriously starting to show, as a document of its time it is perfectly captured, and its essence successfully transported by local author, raconteur and larger-than-life character himself, Vorster.
With several performances already sold out and with the run ending on Sunday, if you’re looking to strike a comedic bargain, I’d suggest booking as soon as possible. Who knows, you too might just end up receiving more than what you bargained for.
Tickets: R100 – R170, 0861 915 8000,www.computicket.com
Sexual innuendo, running gags and mistaken identity
this is all the kind of thing that’s either your cup of tea, or it’s not