Bambi Kellermann is the younger sister of Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout, still the ‘most famous white woman in South Africa’. Chalk and cheese. Whereas Evita has become a household name and favourite across political-party lines, Bambi smoulders in the background – not yet as famous as her sister, but far more dangerous. She left Bethlehem in South Africa’s Orange Free State in 1956 and went to Europe where she eventually married Joachim von Kellermann, a notorious Nazi survivor of the Second World War. In order to hide him from arrest, she took whatever job she could, in many cases verging on the pornographic. Eventually they reached Paraguay where von Kellermann found old SS friends. He became Minister of War. He has since died. Bambi is back in the democratic South Africa.
What the critics had to say:
“Bambi’s a bit of a diva now, part Patti Labelle, part Marlene Dietrich, confident enough to try her hand at musical experimentation, with delightful results….you’ll love Bambi.” – The Weekly Mail
“Dis nou Kabaret!” – Die Burger
“Bambi… a Marlene Dietrich clone from hell, a very dark Blue Angel, part Euro-slut, part boer and part lush.” – Cape Times
“Bambi, ‘n dronklap-tert met meer myle op as ‘n 1971 Mustang, ‘n gehawende Kabaret-ster met ‘n Dietrich-fiksasie.” – Die Burger
She runs a wine-tasting cellar in Paarl, sometimes referred to as nothing more than an excuse for a high-class brothel. It is known that she is HIV-positive. But with money and knowledge, she can live with her virus, as she did with her terrible secrets. She sings – well, she has been inspired to sing by many who also could not sing, but became famous for their singing: Marlene Dietrich, Hildgarde Knef and Zarah Leander to name the German ones. She loves the music of Kurt Weill and Stephen Sondheim. And being an Afrikaner meisie at heart, finds any excuse to sing her favourite boere liedjies out of the FAK Sangbundel. But with a sinister twist…
This is what her Kabaret is about: Her extraordinary story of survival told in song, her background echoed in familiar tunes, her inspirations gently mocked through canny impersonation. The cabaret, with music arranged and played by Godfrey Johnson, is in three languages. Her story is told in English, while the songs also include some in German and some in Afrikaans.
Our theatre is wheelchair friendly. We recommend booking along the left-hand side (seats 1). There is also space at the back should you prefer. Please connect with info@milnertonplayers.com if you have any questions.