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Going into 2013 – what’s on at Joburg theatres

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There are some really exciting upcoming shows and I’m making the most of what’s on offer.  Looking forward to seeing Fascinating Aida next Saturday 26th.  I heard the cast being interviewed by Jenny Crwys-Williamson Radio 702.  Dillie Keane, Adele Anderson and Liza Pulman received rave reviews in their January 2011 run of the show and have been well reviewed in their current show which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2011. See   http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-01-18-fascinating-aida-all-drolled-up. The show runs until 27th at Jan Pieter Toerien’s Theatre at Monte Casino. Apparently it is hysterically funny – we NEED belly aching laughter in our lives!

I’m also going to Mies Julie, currently running at the Market Theatre.  Based on Strindberg’s play Miss Julie, it’s been adapted and directed by Yael Farber and also played at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Farber comments on the contemporary relevance of her adaptation of this late 19th Century play:  ‘The events that ignite overnight in the play, in this remote farmland kitchen, reflect the larger dilemmas of the nation and, indeed, today’s world’.  The cast includes Thoko Ntshinga as Christine with Bongile Mantsai as John and Hilda Cronje as Julie. The show runs until the 24th February.

And in late February I have tickets booked to see Alan Committie the stand-up comedian. I have never seen him and apparently he is side-splittingly funny. He runs at the Pieter Toerien Theatre from 30th January until 3rd March.

Also running at the Market is  The Island, the classic 1973 play by Athol Fugard, John Kani & Winston Ntshona.  Billed as ‘a classical remake with a youthful twist’, the play tells the story of two prisoners on Robben Island, John and Winston, who are rehearsing a performance of Sophocles’ Antigone. When John learns his sentence is being reduced, the men’s friendship is tested. This time around, the play will be performed Atandwa Kani, who was last seen at the Market in The Miser, and Nat Ramabulana, last seen in The Girl in the Yellow Dress. The play runs at the Barney Simon until the 24th March.

The Soweto String Quartet are performing at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, on 26th January with both old classics as well as newer works. Book at Computicket  or phone 011 248-5000.  And South Africa’s well-known acoustic guitarist, Tony Cox, makes two appearances in Joburg in January.  On Sun 27th January he will play at Lucky Bean in Melville at 8,30 pm Booking 011 48205572 and on Wed 30th Jan at 8p, he will be at the Acoustic Forum Marks Park Emmarentia Booking082 651 1094.

There are a couple of jazz evenings this coming week-end at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square.  Friday, 25th Jan the South African jazz group The Red Hand Blues Band will feature and on Sat 26th January & Sunday 27th Jan the shows will include performances by Dutch jazz duo of Denise Jannah and Wolf Martini as well as American jazz pianist John Fresk.

Also at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square from 5th -17th February is a one-woman show Santa’s Story, which dramatizes the autobiography of a 94-year-old Holocaust survivor Santa Pelham. Directed by Janice Honeyman the production mixes story- telling and live music.  An extra twist is given to this autobiography in that Santa Pelham is played by none other than her own daughter. As Santa moves through Europe the sense of  place and culture is evoked through song reflective of the different parts of Europe.

As part of the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival there is a Choreography Concert (free improvisations of Bach Solo Cello Suites accompanied by dance)  with Erich Oskar Huetter (cello) and Tanja ‘Tanima’ Schmid (dance)a University of Graz/Vienna State Opera Ballet School graduate . Erich Oskar Huetter has performed as an orchestra soloist with  conductors such as Daniel Barenboim. At the Fringe Joburg Theatre Wed 30th Jan.

And in a totally different musical vein, Michael Jackson impersonator Kenny Wizz stars in the Michael Jackson HIStory ll Show.   Kenny Wizz ‘direct from Vegas’ is billed as ‘the best Michael Jackson impersonator in the world’.  The production moves from the Jackson 5 era to the current decade including songs such as ABC, Ben, Smooth Criminal, Beat It amongst others.  It shows at the Joburg Theatre (the Mandela) until 13th February.

It will be followed by another recreation of pop music: The Queen Experience at the Joburg Theatre from 12th – 17th Feb. First staged in The Netherlands in Nov 2011 at the Gelredome Soccer Stadium in Arnhem to a sold-out crowd of over 30,000 people. Joseph Clark first performed Queen’s music the popular Queen At The Opera. (Dare I say I lurv Queen’s music, so this might be another one I try to get to.)

Now that’s a great line up for the start of 2013. Yes?


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