It’s panto time as the year winds down
The year is definitely drawing to a close – it’s pantomime time again.This year’s it’s Peter Pan.
On Wednesday, the joyous annual romp opens at the Joburg Theatre and runs until the end of December. It promises to be as thrilling as ever, although why Peter Pan needs a real helicopter on stage remains to be seen.
Our flying hero is played by Michael Riff Themba with Craig Urbani as Captain Hook. Then there’s Bongi Mthombeni as Mister Smee, Thembsie Matu as Tinker Bell and Weslee Swain Lauder as the Dame. There are Lost Boys, pirates and, of course, the Darling Family and their dog Nana. And there’s also the Odourama.
As always, it’s written and directed by Janice Honeyman.
It’s the first of the festive season shows to open; coming up at Montecasino is the return of The Rocky Horror Show and the Afrikaans musical Liefling.
Meanwhile, until the end of November, Joey is galloping on in the magnificent War Horse at the Teatro (see page 1 review).
This is the last week for This is Captain Lottering Speaking, comedy with Marc Lottering in Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, with the thought-provoking The Vertical Hour upstairs in the Studio.
There’s a new show at the space.com at the Joburg Theatre. Secret Ballot is protest theatre and political farce set after this year’s elections and following the five members of The Brotherhood, including Mayhem and Genocide.
There is more mayhem at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square in Sandton where the male revue show Doo Bee Boobies is going crazy with feathers and fishnets.
At the Market Theatre, the international opera The Last Anniversary is on this weekend, with original music and a powerful cast. It follows the experiences of an African traveller in a European airport.
In the smaller venue, the drama My Name is Rachel Corrie, about a student crushed by an Israeli bulldozer, is on until November 23.
In Pretoria, Gauteng Opera is presenting One Voice: An African Celebration in the State Theatre this weekend, with a mix of music, from pop to opera, including numbers made popular by South African artists from Miriam Makeba to Johannes Kerkorrel.
Tonight the TUT students are presenting their annual theatre showcase Verve with original work from students specialising in physical theatre in and around the Rostrum Theatre on campus.
Next Saturday some of Durban’s top comedians are joining Eastern Mosaic presenter Aunty Rumba in Aunty Rumba and Friends at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City.
● Jenny de Klerk is editor of Artslink.co.za.