Making a strong bond even stronger
HAVING been co-stars in shows including the award-winning Doubt and Miss Dietrich Regrets, Durban’s Janna Ramos-Violante and one of South Africa’s most noted actresses, Fiona Ramsay, have formed a strong bond that continues with a play chosen as one of two flagship productions at this year’s Hilton Arts Festival.
Directed by the now Gautengbased Ramos-Violante and starring Ramsay, the solo work is the 60-minute Blonde Poison.
It’s a play by South African Gail Louw, a drama centred on beauty, treachery and the high price of survival in a world beset with mistrust, espionage and duplicity.
It will be staged at the Independent Newspaperssponsored festival at Hilton College, in the Grindrod Bank Theatre, at 8.30pm on Friday and 3pm on Sunday. Tickets cost R199 each.
Ramsay plays Stella Goldschlag, a woman offered the chance to save herself and her parents from the concentration camps by giving Hitler’s Gestapo information and ratting on Jews in hiding.
The festival, running from Friday to Sunday, serves a feast of theatre, art, crafts, dance, music and workshops, and Blonde Poison, already seen at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, seems set to be a crowd-puller.
Theatre should provoke people to engage and grapple with their humanity, and Blonde Poison will force such provocation, says Ramos-Violante in reply to a question about why the play should rate as a Hilton Arts Festival must-see.
“It is absolutely essential for us to examine brutal stories of our recent past, however difficult. How else will we stop history repeating itself ?
“Also, Fiona’s incredible portrayal of Stella is a provocative theatre experience that will challenge audience members to question their morality and ask the blunt question: ‘What would I have done?’”
When Ramsay appoached Ramos-Violante to direct, she jumped at the chance.
“Not only is Fiona a super talent, but we are like-minded, have the same work ethic, love collaborative storytelling and constantly challenge each other to be more brave,” she said.
Ramos-Violante is a versatile, award-winning actress – her varied successes include Venus in Fur, Oleanna, Guys and Dolls and Boston Marriage; and she will appear at the Hilton Arts Festival in a two-hander titled Contractions, alongside Emily Child – but she is just as passionate about directing.
“I absolutely love it. It satisfies a different part of me and I find it hugely fulfilling. I love to work in a collaborative way, whether directing or acting.
“I don’t find any role in the creative process exclusive. Each has its own responsibilities and the role of the director helps channel each person’s creative input to the ultimate vision of the piece.”
Blonde Poison, which had five performances in Grahamstown, and for which national and international touring is planned, offers material that was particularly challenging, said Ramos-Violante.
“It was important to us to handle the story sensitively and without judgement. Ultimately, Stella’s story is one of survival, but in no way did we want to offend or feel like we were ‘letting her off the hook’, as it were. We wanted to ensure our storytelling supported a human perspective and not a political one.”
Playwright Louw also wrote Miss Dietrich Regrets, in which Ramsay and Ramos-Violante played mother and daughter, but no other collaborations with Louw are planned.
“None of it was planned. It was, as it always is, divine timing. We have discussed, casually, doing another of Gail’s plays, but nothing formal.
“Gail is hugely prolific and writes great roles for female actresses, so it would be great to produce more of her work,” said Ramos-Violante.
She and Ramsay first connected for Doubt which had preview performances at The Hilton Arts Festival three years ago. Earlier this year, both Ramsay and Ramos-Violante took Naledi Theatre Awards for their performances in the play.
“It was a special time and real dream-come-true moment for me. Doubt was a huge success and went on to have runs at Durban’s Playhouse and The Auto and General Theatre on the Square in Johannesburg.
“We realised then what a fantastic team we were and went on to produce The Old and the Beautiful (2014 Ovation awardwinner at the Grahamstown Arts Festival and seen at Hilton last year), Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads and Vivienne Franzmann’s Pests, and have worked on other plays and films together.”
Discussing Contractions, which has Hilton performances in the Grindrod Bank Theatre at 10am on Saturday and 12.30pm on Sunday, Ramos-Violante says she and Child have been wanting to work together since the last time, in KickstArt’s Don’t Dress For Dinner, and finally found the right vehicle in Mike Bartlett’s play.
She describes the sharply scripted Contractions, directed by Greg Karvellas, as “dark, funny, brutal and full of truth” as it unfurls a tale exploring the transformative dynamics of the corporate world, and tests the limits we are willing to put on the company we keep.
“We played to sold-out houses in Cape Town and what we deliciously discovered about this play is just how much it speaks to every man. Husbands were bringing their wives back to watch it a second time.”
Continuing to produce and tour new work is a long-term plan for Ramos-Violante, who is also a talented scriptwriter, having penned five plays –Mein Soldat, Callum’s Will, Phobic, The Adventures of Jabulani Jo and The Secret of Mrs Moppet’s Garden.
“Mein Soldat is my favourite. It was my first play for an adult audience and the story, based on my husband’s grandmother, was very important to me. It was also the first play my independent company produced. It was a phenomenal watershed moment for me as an artist.”
For more information about the Hilton Arts Festival, visit http://www.hiltonfestival.co.za or phone 033 383 0126 / 7. Booking enquiries: tickets@hiltoncollege.com.