Reviews

The Players regularly receive great reviews for their work, published in local and regional newspapers.

Here are a selection of our latest reviews –

The Savannah Sipping Society [Sept/October 2019]

Weekend Comedy [July/August 2019]

Hay Fever [May/June 2019]

And Then What?  [Mar/Apr 2019]

The Christmas Spirit  [Nov/Dec 2018]

Dangerous Obsession   [Sept/Oct 2018]

Miracle on South Division Street   [July 2018]

Nunsense   [April 2018] 

Art

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The Savannah Sipping Society

by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope & Jamie Wooten, DIRECTED BY Judith Herbig

AT THE MILNERTON PLAYHOUSE 27 September – 12 October, 2019

SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews for Weekend Special

Described as a laugh-a-minute comedy, The Savannah Sipping Society (TSSS) is more a poignant look at three lonely women after their lives take an unexpected dip. It tells the story of how they learn to throw off the glums to start living joyfully again. The trio’s heartaches are not unique – they mirror countless others. However co-authors Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten relate their stories with such sensitivity and humour, TSSS brings a message of hope to anyone passing through similar emotional turmoil.

A joyous rebirth

We first meet Randa, Dot and Marlafaye in a state of collapse after a body-breaking workout at Namaste Yoga Studio. The trio are middle aged (what a horrid term for women past their 21st birthday bloom) and we learn Randa (53) (Kim Coetzer), possessed by a strong sense of logic, was a workaholic architect.

After successfully completing a complex design Randa, instead of being offered a partnership, had been shown the door. Hurt, she moved to Savannah and spent her payout buying and renovating her beautiful home.

Next we encounter Dot (69) (Roz Fitzgerald). She and her husband had recently moved to Savannah anticipating enjoying their twilight years together. His sudden death left his spunky widow in a town where she barely knows a soul.

Number three of the three is irrepressible Marlafaye (53) (Marelise Brand). From the South (please could she speak more slowly), she’s pretty cut up about her husband running off with a 23 year-old hygienist and is bent on revenge. When it happens, wow!, it perks her up no end.

These women, equally stressed but by different troubles, do have one thing in common – they want to shake off the past but don’t know how. That’s before Dot invites Jinx (Petra Baker) to (lots of) sundowners on Randa’s superbly appointed veranda. Jinx, a glamorous ball of fire, offers her services as a life coach expert to plot roads that will bring the trio, and (unexpectedly) herself, to new beginnings.

Around Jinx’s plans, plots, exploits and dynamic personality, the women exchange their dour lives to ones of excitement, interest, fun on Valentine’s night, and new lasting friendships.

Director Judith Herberg has appreciated the psychology co-authors built into the gentle Savannah Sipping Society tale. The playwrights understand that inner confusion women suffer when circumstances, beyond their control, cut their feet from under them.

And Herberg, calling on her expertise and intellect carefully guided each player to draw real life heart-warming portraits.

Adding much to this production’s success is Barry Altwig’s classic design for Randa’s veranda. Altwig’s eye for detail is again evident by matched cane furniture, ivy covered trellises, flower baskets, pictures, light fittings as well as well placed doors. Every detail going towards creating such a sense of America’s Deep South he deserves a CATA award.

Faeron Wheeler’s review for FMR

It is so refreshing to see a show that is all about women, and real women at that. I genuinely loved the story of The Savannah Sipping Society – the current production being put on by Milnerton Players at their Playhouse. It’s all about four women who are flawed, emotional and funny. Oh, and they also all happen to be middle-aged and up.

It’s a fairly new production from the trio, Jones, Hope and Wooten. They are known for creating laugh-out-loud comedies that are grounded by very real characters. I have to say, the characters I saw on stage on Friday night were instantly recognisable and relatable. We’ve all been stuck in a rut, or had the rug pulled out from under us, and needed a little help to find the fun in our lives again. That’s exactly what happens to these four characters.

We start with Randa (played by Kim Coetzer) – a career woman who doesn’t get the expected promotion. After momentarily snapping, she finds herself without a job. Randa comes to the pretty harsh realisation that she has no life outside of work. In an attempt to find one, she heads to a yoga studio. The class may have been awful, but she came away with two potential friends – Dot (played by Roz Fitzgerald) and Marlafaye (played by Marelise Brand). The two new friends invite themselves round for happy hour on Friday evening, and before Randa knows it, she’s got three women she doesn’t know from a bar of soap sitting on her veranda, drinking bourbon and spilling the beans about how they all need to jumpstart their lives. And, before you say anything, I can count – Dot decided to invite yet another woman she doesn’t know to join them. Enter Jinx (played by Petra Baker).

It turns out that the final addition to their little group is actually a life coach. She makes a deal with them that if she can’t turn their lives around in six months, she won’t charge them for her services. With varying degrees of enthusiasm, they all agree to the arrangement. And so, the adventure begins.

There are some wonderful comic moments in the script, as well as some really poignant moments where these women let their guards down and let each other, and the audience, in on their fears and their pain. Sadly, I found that some of this was missed in the performances. The progression from light-hearted conversation into the more serious moments didn’t have enough depth for me and the transition within each character wasn’t always there. I think director Judith Herbig needed to pay a little bit more attention to the nuances in these moments, especially in the transitions into the monologue sections.

I also have to point out a particular bugbear of mine – accents. The two actors doing southern accents were quite often tricky to understand and they were not able to maintain their accents throughout. This made things feel disjointed and also meant that some of the punchlines were missed.

I did love Barry Altwig’s set. It was gorgeous. Hats off to Altwig for his usual excellent attention to detail. The two side entrances used for a number of the monologue sections were a great addition too.

The Savannah Sipping Society is a heart-warming story full of charm. I genuinely did love seeing four women up on stage, not obsessing about men but rather looking for their own joy and happiness in life. It all felt quite relevant in the current discourse in society. The show runs until 12 October on Fridays and Saturdays. Email bookings@milnertonplayers.com or visit their website to book your tickets.

Weekend Comedy

REVIEW – Weekend Comedy by Jeanne & Sam Bobrick, DIRECTED BY Lauren Haupt

MILNERTON PLAYHOUSE 26 July – 10 August, 2019,

REVIEWER Faeron Wheeler, Fine Music Radio

Imagine arriving at your accommodation – a quiet, secluded little cabin in the middle of a forest – ready for a romantic weekend with your significant other; only to find that the place has been double booked and there’s another couple there also expecting a quiet, romantic weekend! I’m ashamed to say that I personally would not have handled the situation terribly well. I’m definitely a “may I speak to someone in charge” kind of person… But, I digress.

Originally presented in 1985 in the USA, Weekend Comedy still holds up today with its message of learning from each other. I liked how director, Lauren Haupt, set her version in current day South Africa. For the most part, her adaptations to the script worked really nicely. I especially laughed at the mention of Pofadder – that was nicely played. However, there were a few moments where it stood out that the phrasing was clearly American and that jarred a bit. I also found that there were some pretty dated gender roles on display, particularly in the younger couple, that could have been updated in the adaptation phase.

You can tell from the title and the premise that audiences are in for a laugh. Friday night’s audience was definitely entertained and laughed out loud quite a bit. My stand out moments included Frank (played by Chris Doran) and his surprising and rude gesture just before interval. Then in the second act, there was a wonderfully awkward conversation about marriage between the younger couple, Tony (played by Lance Laubscher) and Jill (played by Hannah Crafford). Cindy Nixon’s Peggy also had some fun eye rolls at her husband, Frank, and uses beer to great effect in one particular instance when she’s had enough of his tantrums.

Lauren Haupt did well in her directorial debut. The action kept moving forward at a good pace and the actors seemed to be having a lot of fun on stage. I did feel though that there were quite a few times when the actors were simply moving on stage because they had been told to move on a certain line. There should be intention with every move that makes sense to the character and their development, and this intention comes from a conversation between actor and director. Having a deep understanding of intention will also help with building chemistry between characters and true humanity within each.

I really liked Fin McCormick’s set. Actually, I’m always impressed with Milnerton Player’s sets and the attention to detail that goes into pulling them together. This one was no exception. But I did have one quite big quibble on the props side. The actors weren’t given any liquids to drink or food to eat. When you have such a realistic set, it doesn’t make sense to have the actors mime eating a fake breakfast or to not fill the coffee pot for them to drink. Definitely something to think about for the rest of the run.

If you’re looking for some feel-good comedy to warm you up, then Weekend Comedy is a good bet. It runs until 10 August on Fridays and Saturdays. Email bookings@milnertonplayers.com or visit their website to book your tickets.

SHEILA CHISHOLM of WEEKEND SPECIAL reviews

It’s a major step from stage manager and actor to sitting in the director’s chair. Anyone who chooses to move there will have learnt a production’s well-being falls squarely on their shoulders. That’s a heavy burden which not all new directors have the ability, or talent, to carry as successfully as debutante Lauren Haupt does in Weekend Comedy.

Yes, there were moments where a more experienced director would have spotted the possibility of memory lapses, noted cues were often too slowly picked up, that glamorous Hanna Crafford (as Jill) overused her hands, Lance Frodo Laubscher (as Tony) seemed at a loss what to do with his (so thumbs tucked into jeans solved that problem), while “four, frequently, standing passively in a row” slowed momentum.

Those flaws noted, they mustn’t detract from Haupt’s handling of Jeanne Bobrick and Sam Bobrick’s Weekend Comedy.  She treated this amusing tale of how two couples see themselves and how others do with a sensitivity that forecasts a future for her as a director.

Two couples, one cabin …

Told over two acts/six scenes we meet Peggy (Cindy Nixon) and Frank (Chris Doran) as they settle into their rented Knysna cabin for the weekend.  Married for 23 years, Peggy has donned a sexy black dress in a (vain) attempt to reawaken Frank’s sexual interest in her. Frank, a plain, down-to-earth man, considers romance no longer necessary in his marriage … he’s adamant there’s a difference between love and passion.  Poor Peggy. Her eyelashes are fluttering overtime when in tumble Tony and Jill clutching each other in the kind of embrace Peggy is longing for from Frank.

The attractive cabin holds special meaning for Tony and Jill who are celebrating their third anniversary together and in no uncertain terms expect Peggy and Frank to leave.  Eventually they reach a compromise. Tony and Jill can have the en suite bedroom. Peggy and Frank will doss down on the living-room couch.

However, it’s not sleeping on the couch that bothers Frank, it’s being cut off from the bathroom that does. That’s when some unnecessary lavatorial language and scenes are introduced. Still, it’s all done with good humour with Doran’s characterisation the production’s strength.  He has a natural way of speaking, moving and interacting, so let’s see more of him in future productions.

Once married American co-authors Jeanne and Sam Bobrick’s script challenges the gap between 20 something lovers and 50 something married couples. They explore how each generation communicates. What each age group considers relevant and their expectations for the rest of their life.  This philosophical take on Cahn/van Heusen’s 1955 Tin Pan Alley hit song Love and Marriage is enjoyable fare.

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HAY FEVER

THERESA SMITH reviews in the Weekend Special.

Written by Noel Coward. Directed by Isabel Ormandy, with Michelle Galloway, Trevor Joubert, Tania Lemme, Lee William Speechly, Melissa Sanderson, Mark Wilkes, Dirk Jonker, Estie de Wet and Beryl Eichenberger.

Rude people behaving badly makes for great memes nowadays, but back in the day it was so uncommon that Noel Coward wrote a play around the idea.

Cerebral farce (as opposed to physical) comes into play in this comedy of bad manners which features a strong ensemble.

Over the top over-acting

The first act takes its time to set the scene, but the pace picks up considerably in the second act once we have established who is who in the zoo. Even housekeeper Clara, (Eichenberger shuffling about in the most ridiculous wig) who at first you think is going to be the one nice person, gets a dig in every now and then at everyone.

Where Eichenberger affects a Cockney accent everyone else tries for varying degrees of a plummy English accent. As Bliss matriach Michelle Galloway takes the cake with not only the accent, but the OTT way she (figuratively) clutches at her pearls for attention.

When she and her children dramatise one of her plays (Judith is a retired diva of the stage) you see what truly over the top over-acting is, and realise each of the actors is doing a good job with their characterisation. From the way Estie de Wet’s good timing helps you realise what an innocent Jackie Coryton is, to Dirk Jonker’s restrained manner helping to set up character Richard Greatham’s diplomatic equanimity (which makes his character falling for Judith’s machinations all the more funny), the characterisation is what makes this work.

Barry Altwig’s set design goes a long way to situating the scenario in 1920s England, but it is a hermetically sealed point in time. Just as the set is not affected by what happens outside (despite people constantly disappearing into the garden or referencing the outside world) the play works as long as you suspend your awareness of contemporary times and mores and think about how shocking this “rudeness” would have been in old school polite society.

It’s a fun night of escapism that, while now longer completely outrageous simply because of contemporary standards of politeness, is still deliciously amusing.

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Hay Fever, Review by Faeron Wheeler, FMR

Let me just start by saying how much I love Noel Coward. He holds a mirror up to society and says “Darlings, aren’t we just too ridiculous?” And his works call for heightened acting and everything is just a little bit OTT. I love it, and clearly so did the cast of Milnerton Players’ Hay Fever.

Congrats to director Isabel Ormondy for bringing this classic to life and for putting so much thought into on-stage theatrics. There were some great physical comedy moments that paired nicely with Coward’s renowned sharp dialogue and characters that aren’t really that nice.

The play is set in the country house of the Bliss family, and I have to mention the nicely detailed set done by Barry Altwig. It looked good, but I did feel that the dark walls and dark exterior showing through the doors was a bit imposing and it didn’t allow for shifts from day to night and then back to day.

But onto the action. It’s the weekend and each member of the family has invited someone to stay without informing the others. Now talk about dysfunction! This family is led by the matriarch, Judith Bliss (played by Michelle Galloway). Judith is a retired actress who loves to be dramatic and has to the centre of attention. Her two children – Sorel (played Tania Lemme) and Simon (played by Lee Speechly) – also have a penchant for the dramatic and haven’t exactly learnt the niceties of society from their parents, or really any manners at all. The family is rounded out by husband and father, David Bliss (played by Trevor Joubert). And dear old dad is no better than the rest of the lot – he’s an author who lives in his own world and doesn’t seem to have any time for how society says you should behave.

As the guests arrive one by one, it quickly becomes clear that this is going to be a weekend of torment for them. It’s the fun of farce that ensues as the guests get put through the ringer, and end up paired with the wrong family member. The comic timing of these shenanigans is good fun!

The ensemble cast played together well, and were clearly enjoying themselves up on stage. To me, the stand out performance was from Michelle Galloway, playing the diva herself – Judith Bliss. She was wonderful at holding court and commanding attention from everyone surrounding her. I also thoroughly enjoyed Beryl Eichenberger as Clara, the housekeeper. Her interjections were fabulously timed. And finally, it was a pleasure to see Mark Wilkes up on stage one more time before he leaves for England. I’ve always loved his comic timing, and his performance as Sandy Tyrell – one of the guests – did not disappoint.

Now one of the tricks when it comes to performing Coward is to pay close attention to the delivery of lines. Because much of the dialogue is quick and sharp, it’s easy to fall into the trap of delivering the lines all on one level and this can become quite monotonous for the audience. Unfortunately, I found this to be a case more than once in the performance, but particularly in the opening scene between the siblings. There wasn’t enough variation in voice and the actors sounded too similar to each other. The pace was also quite slow, with too many pauses between lines and things took a while to get going. Hopefully this was just opening weekend jitters and the cast will settle into things as the run continues. Saturday’s gala audience did have a good laugh.

Get yourself to Milnerton Playhouse and have some fun – Noel Coward style. Hay Fever runs until 8 June on Fridays and Saturdays. Email bookings@milnertonplayers.com or visit their website to book your tickets.

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And Then What?

REVIEWER – Faeron Wheeler for Fine Music Radio

Bravo to Milnerton Players for putting on an original, local work. And bravo to Werner Steffen for bringing this piece to life. It’s no easy task, writing a script and putting it out there for the world to
see. Adding to that stress, Steffen directed the piece himself. It must have been nerve-wracking on
opening night, waiting to see how the audience was going to react. I’m happy to report that we were
all smiles at the end of the show.

Barry Altwig’s set was beautiful. It genuinely felt like a trendy bar in Cape Town’s CBD. The ambience was also enhanced by the extras – patrons who were hanging out in the bar. They never pulled focus, but stayed in their respective characters throughout. I applaud them all for taking on these silent roles! They added a wonderful depth to the piece. Do yourself a favour and go see this lovely, local gem. It runs until 13 April on Fridays and Saturdays at the Milnerton Playhouse.

And Then What? – Tygerburger Review

The Christmas Spirit

Two-act dark comedy by Frederick Stroppel. Directed by Sheila McCormick. Set/lighting: FinMcCormick. Milnerton Players. Until 8 December.

Reviewed for Fine Music Radio by Waldo Buckle.

Aired on Cape Diary on 30 November 2018.

For their end of year production, Milnerton Players has chosen to stage Frederick Stroppel’s dark comedy, The Christmas Spirit. It is Directed by Sheila McCormick, with Set and Lighting design by Fin McCormick and Sound design by Laura Singh.

Julia Dowling, played by Beryl Eichenberger, is about to die, at least to the mysterious stranger who appears from behind her Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve. But for Julia, 72 Christmases aren’t nearly enough, and she convinces Death, played by Simon Speck, to grant her a one day reprieve by inviting him to dinner with her friends and family.

But the Dowlings aren’t the happy clan Julia leads Death to believe. As the day progresses, old resentments surface, new connections are made, and everyone, even Death, donning a traditional Christmas jumper, feels the magic of the Christmas spirit.

The show contains many twists and turns that keep the audience entertained.

The visit of the Angel of Death on Christmas eve shocks Julia early that morning. She formulates an elaborate Christmas dinner of goose and plum pudding after Death tells her that he was on a first name basis with Charlie Dickens. Julia, who lives with her daughter, Beth, played by Melissa Sanderson, creates this happy family scenario complete with imaginary children and elaborate guest list.

The invited guests area Julia’s Catholic Priest, Father John, played by Richard Wade, her sisterRosemary, played by Brigitte Scherz, her husband, Bernie, played by Trevor Joubert, Julia’s sexually confused son, Paul, played by Werner Steffen, and his bimbo girlfriend, Melissa who is Jewish, played by Nakita Allen. Death himself provides the final guest when he brings an uninvited guest with him to dinner. Recent suicide victim, Matthew, played by suitably stern faced Gary Green.

What will happen when Death finds out about Julia’s charade? Will he enjoy Christmas so much that he lets her off the hook? Will a catastrophe in Pakistan make any difference?

The two leading players are Simon Speck as Death, aka Jack Frost and Beryl Eichenberger as Julia. Speck’s performance is particularly noteworthy. His interpretation of the role as a naive middle aged man seeing Christmas for the very first time is strong and convincing. The many clever comic lines in the repartee between Jack and Julia underlines the fact that this is not a heavy drama.

Another strong performance was that of Melissa Sanderson as Beth, Julia’s daughter. Beth can’t understand why her mother wants to celebrate Christmas with a dinner at their home. As she becomes aware of what is happening she joins in the festivities. Sanderson’s performance was convincing. She fully understood the complexity of her character. As much as her mother makes her mad, she ultimately loves her.

The interplay between on-stage husband and wife, Bernie and Rosemary, provided ample laughs. Trevor Joubert is a seasoned performer. His interpretation of the slightly dim witted, absent minded Bernie, made him the audience’s sentimental favourite.

As a whole my only criticism would be the inconsistent use of accents, and one can easily attribute the lack of pace and energy during certain scenes to opening night jitters.

Stroppel’s plot may be a very transparent take on the “Death Takes a Holiday” motif, but his approach to the idea of Death taking human form is original. In turns funny, tragic and deeply poignant, TheChristmas Spirit is a touching look at the things that truly make life worth living.

Frederick Stroppel’s The Christmas Spirit, runs until the 8^thof December at the Milnerton Playhouse with performances at 20h00 on Fridays and two performances on Saturdays. A matinee at half past two and an evening performance at 8 o’clock. Tickets cost between R75 and R95. To book tickets please visit www.milnertonplayers.co.za or send an email to bookings@milnertonplayers.com.

Book Now!

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The Christmas Spirit

SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews in the Weekend Special.

How would you react if, on your way to bed, you heard a late night news reader mention vast numbers  killed in an earthquake in Pakistan; and, as often as you switched off the Christmas tree lights, they flicked on  again?  Being Christmas Eve, when magical things do happen, you might (fleetingly) think Santa had arrived early to play games with you.

However, if you are feisty Julia Dowling (Beryl Eichenberger) and a tall, gentle-faced, soft spoken man, clad all in white steps into your living room announcing he’s not Santa Claus but Death (Simon Speck) and he’s come for you, you’ll flatly refuse to go.

As this sharp reaction stumps Death he calls in young Matthew (Gary Green) to help. Matthew recently committed suicide after his girlfriend broke up with him. And although he’s not unhappy, he now realises that shooting himself over a girl was a stupid thing to do. Julia continues arguing her reasons for not going. She has unfinished business with her daughter Sue who never answers her calls; it would be rude for her family to find her dead before celebrating Christmas together; the children would be disappointed at not receiving their Christmas presents. Besides, the goose needs to be to cooked.

Death’s problem is, he has a daily quota of soul gathering to meet. However, when Julia suggests instead of her he adds one unknown earthquake victim, and invites him to Christmas dinner … he agrees.

The Christmas Spirit is comedic rather than macabre

That all may sound rather morbid. But, under Sheila McCormick’s perceptive handling of Frederick Stroppel’s satirical, edgy script the comic rather than the macabre is highlighted. And she’s directed her disciplined cast to bring out, but not exaggerate, typical tensions at family gatherings where personality clashes exist.

Biggest irritations were fault finding Aunt Rosemary (Brigitte Scherz) and Uncle Bernie (Trevor Joubert), her nerdish, bordering on alcoholic, husband. Under duress they accepted Julia’s surprise invitation. Paul (Werner Steffen) brought Melissa (Nakita Allen) to meet his mother Julia, but the bulimic Melissa spent half her visit flirting withMatthew or running upstairs to the bathroom, leaving Paul a rather lost soul.

Father John (Richard Wade), another surprise guest, diplomatically helped smooth ruffled feathers. He even offered himself to Death, in order that Julia could live a little longer.

Initially Julia’s beautiful daughter Beth (Melissa Sanderson) couldn’t fathom her mother’s sudden desire to gather all her family for Christmas lunch, as well as inviting “Jack”– a total stranger. When she learnt “Jack’s”mission, she realized how much she loved her mother and did her best to prevent her demise.

In her harrowing part Eichenberger sensitively took Julia through the many human emotions anyone facing their sudden departure might feel. A splendid performance worthy of a CATA nomination. Speck playedDeath/Jack as a kindly, loving, all embracing friend, not to be feared. Perhaps that’s the message Stroppel sends in this compassionate story. A Christmas Spirit with a difference. Do see.

What: The Christmas Spirit

Where and when: Milnerton Playhouse, Milnerton until 8 December 2018

Book: www.milnertonplayers.co.za or 082 267 1061

Book Now!

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Dangerous Obsession

Review by RUTH ALLSOPP, October 2018

The Milnerton Players have done well to choose NJ Crisp’s thriller Dangerous Obsession to present on the Milnerton Playhouse stage. The setting has been transferred to present-day Cape Town and this works well.

Werner Steffen makes his directorial debut of a full-length play with Crisp’s fascinating story. There are surprises galore as truths are revealed which keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

The cast consists of three characters – Sally and Mark Driscoll and John Barrett. Sally (played byAndrea Fourie) and Mark (Anton Schafer) are a youngish, upwardly-mobile couple. Sally brought money to the marriage and this saved Mark from financial difficulty.They now live in a nouveau riche suburb in an elegant, expensive  modern  house and are considering starting a family.

We first meet Sally in the conservatory, watering her plants and preparing her first evening drink. The arrival of John Barrett (Lee William Speechly) puzzles and alarms her. Eventually she recognizes him as someone that she and Mark had met at a business weekend in Arniston. When Mark arrives from work, he too remembers John and his wife, and shows signs of discomfort.

What has John come for? He becomes more and more sinister. Gradually truths are revealed and just when the audience feels that all is now in the open, there are more surprises.

Andrea Fourie, as Sally, started a little nervously, pitching her voice a tad high, but she soon settled down and gave a sincere, controlled performance. AntonSchafer, as Mark, suitably downplayed the signs of his discomforture; his break down when the truth confronts his lies was well handled.

LeeWilliam Speechly has a good stage presence and is always audible. He was convincingly menacing, but needs to vary his volume, pitch and pace to avoid a certain monotony creeping into his speech delivery.

The set of the conservatory was superb – one of the best sets I have ever seen in amateur theatre. Barry Altwig is to be congratulated on the set design and decor. The ceiling to floor curtain was impressive, the doors and windows were sturdy. The glimpse of a fine wall-clock in the next room and the brick wall outside the conservatory door added realism. When the lights went up at the start of the play, there was applause for this beautiful set.

The audience was finely entertained as revelation followed revelation. Their enthusiastic applause when the lights finally dimmed was evidence of their enjoyment. The success of Dangerous Obsession should encourage Steffen to continue his career as director.

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Miracle on South Division Street

 Comedy by Tom Dudzick. Directed by Judith  Herbig. Presented by Milnerton Players. At Milnerton Playhouse until 11 August 2018.

SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews, JULY 2018

Somewhere between 1596 and1599 when Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice, the phrase ‘The Truth Will Out’, was born. It’s said mostly under sinister situations, inferring that no matter how many lies a shifty criminal tells, eventually the truth will out … even though it may take years to do so.

American playwright Tom Dudzick doesn’t actually use that phrase. He’s simply based his charming, funny, sometimes poignant Miracle on South Division Street around it. To tell what that truth is would ruin the surprises Ruth(ie) (TaniaLemme) reveals to her family before she, and friend Lucy, head off to New York.

It is 2010 in Buffalo NY and Ruth is nervously sitting in the family’s 1950’s kitchen with her motherClara (Petra Baker), brother Jim (Thomas van Niekerk) and older sister Beverly(Robin Botha); she’s telling them about her dying grandmother’s last words.

Petra Baker – a prize-winning performance

These devout Catholics, finding it difficult to believe Ruthie’s story, react according to their nature. Baker, a solid down to earth soul as devoted to honest family values as she is to her religion, gives a brilliant, prize-winning performance. Hers light German accent adds authenticity to her early ‘origins’ as a 1942 Polish immigrant. Van Niekerk is the household’s helpful handyman who’s able to keep his mother’s electrical appliances working long past their expected life span.He’s in love. But apprehensive about his mother’s reaction when he tells her his future wife is Jewish.

Completing the family is Beverly. She, like the rest of the family is a devout Catholic. Her job, bottling ketchup (she prefers calling it salad dressing), leaves her with energy to spare which she spends at the bowling alley.

Beverly is argumentative. She picks holes in everything everyone says, and is especially critical of Ruthie’s stories. Poor Ruthie, at the brunt of her family’s anguished questioning, somehow succeeds in remaining calm. She, after all, has been privy to her grandmother’s secrets for some time.

And that’s all I’m saying about Miracle on South Division Street. Except …warmest congratulations to director Judith Herbig, and her team, for presenting this enchanting play.

Fed up with gloom and doom? See A Miracle on South Division Street.

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Nunsense

Musical Comedy by Dan Goggin. Directed by Kyla Thorburn. Musical direction: Barend van der Westhuizen. Presented by Milnerton Players. Milnerton Playhouse.

SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews, April 2018

Few would believe that the quiet dignity of five nuns, from Holy Cross Convent, could be undone by a simple disaster. After all, these five spent years caring for lepers on a remote South of France island, where serious disasters occurred daily.

But Mother Superior, Sister Mary Regina (Fiona Carling), second in command Sister Mary Hubert (Fiona Tanner), streetwise Sister Robert Anne (Melissa Sanderson), befuddled Sister Mary Amnesia (Michelle Galloway) and Novice Sister Mary Leo (Georgina Borros) are in a tizz.

This is because they found fifty-two sister nuns dead after eating Sister Julia’s vichyssoise. An unfortunate incident, quite spoiling the quintet’s Bingo evening as now the dead require burial, and funds are non-existent.

Trustworthy down-to-earth Sister Mary Regina solves these financial woes by setting up a successful online e-card mailing website – a scheme garnering enough cash to bury 48 of the nuns. As well as purchasing a home entertainment system, and an 85 inch LED TV, bought to assist the mourning process of  the five remaining nuns.

Unfortunately, this go(o)dly act uses up all the kitty, leaving an empty wallet for burial expenses for the four remaining nuns. Sensibly the five pop the deceased into the deep freeze, until they can raise the undertaker’s charges. But noticing that the health inspector’s inspection is imminent puts the five under huge pressure. So they arrange a fund raising concert at Milnerton Playhouse. “Please help. Buy a ticket or two.”

Amusing characterisations

Nonsense? Yes! But that is what Nunsense is all about … nonsense.

Although Dan Goggin’s music is tuneful, no memorable melodies are among the 18 songs sung and danced to Pierre Robertson’s first-rate backing tracks. It’s Goggin’s lyrics and the team’s energetic pizzazz that gives each character their comic identity. Particularly noted is director Kyla Thorburn’s natty choreography and dab hand at drawing amusing characterisations from each personae.

But great credit goes to musical director Barend van der Westhuizen. Without a conductor for cues, he’s rehearsed the crew to such perfection they never miss an entrance, end together and always sing harmoniously. Well, not always.  When Sister Amnesia ecomes excited she does occasionally overstretch her vocal cords!

Would when people struggle with forgetfulness they could provide as much humour as Galloway – her ventriloquist-mimicking (“So You Want To Be A Nun”) and the disappearance of her amnesia (“I Could’ve Gone to Nashville”) were two highlights. Sanderson’s Sister Robert Anne is a wise-cracking group comic. She can strip the convent car faster than any mechanic and fancies herself as a witch (“Just Wants to be a Star”).  Young, fresh and good teammate Burros aims to revive Sister Amnesia’s memory in “Lilacs Bring Back Memories”. Sadly, her ambitions to become the first ever ballerina nun are unlikely to be realised – she’s good but not that good. Tanner – Mistress of the Novices – leads the troupe in Mandy Cardin’s nifty shuffle, step hop tap number, while she and Sister Regina performa jolly duet in “Just a Coupl’a Sisters”.Nunsense is jolly entertainment linked by Carling’s Mother Superior’s tongue-in-cheek, excellently timed, no nonsense approach to convent life. Set in a colourful kindergarten classroom, Hannelore and Philippa van Ryneveld designed authentic habits and follow spot operator Lyle Wilson had fun not following with her follow spot.

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ART

Reviewed by RUTH ALLSOPP

The Milnerton Players’ second production of the year opened at the Milnerton Playhouse on Friday evening. It is the modern French classic”Art” by Yasmina Reza.

This wise and intelligent comedy, translated by Christopher Hampton , is set in three apartments of three friends in the Paris of the late 1990s. Anton Schafer makes his directorial debut with this internationally famous play.

Serge, a divorced man of fair means, has bought a large, expensive painting, all white, with three just discernable, slightly raised white lines. He proudly shows it to his friend Marc who shocks him by his crude and negative reaction to this modern work of art. Third friend Yvan triesto be conciliatory, but the row just grows more bitter and more personal.

As is so often the case in a quarrel hidden resentments surface and the friendship of the three men teeters on destruction. Can the friendship survive? The quirky ending supplies the answer.

The three characters are nicely contrasted in speech patterns, gestures and dress. Marc is played by MartinKluge whose continental background adds an extra dimension to his convincing characterization. He successfully conveys Marc’s sophistication and tendency to ‘manage’ others, using his eyes to fine effect.

James King as Serge, the proud buyer of the controversial painting, well portrays his defensiveness at Marc’s reactions and the growing estrangement as their disagreement spirals.

Werner Steffen is Yvan, tense with preparations for his approaching marriage. His long speech on family disagreements about the wording of the wedding invitation is taken at a rattling pace – almost like a G and Spatter song, as my companion observed. It was rewarded by warm applause. Steffen must, however, guard against a general tendency to rush his speech, which sometimes affects audibility.

The white minimalistic set and white furniture, the expert lighting and the Bach unaccompanied cello music all added to the effectiveness of the production. Congratulations here to Barry Altwig, Fin McCormick and Wayne Hendricks. Congratulations also to JennyMerritt for the paintings in Yvan’s and Marc’s apartments.

Schafer kept a good pace going, occasionally, I felt, pushing it a little. His three actors worked well as a team; the enthusiastic audience applause at the end was indicative of the play’s success. Schaefer is to be commended for what he has achieved as a first-time director.