South Africa Theater Reviews Page 5

Review: CONSTELLATIONS Promises an Enchanting Experience at Spier Wine Farm
by Faeron Wheeler - November 07, 2022

This is the third year that CONSTELLATIONS is running out at Spier Wine Farm and I’m glad that I finally got to experience it. It’s a magical setting for performances and the whole experience was unlike anything I’d done before....

Review: THE UNLIKELY SECRET AGENT is back on in Cape Town at the Baxter
by Faeron Wheeler - October 24, 2022

This run of THE UNLIKELY SECRET AGENT brings with it some new energy in the form of two new cast members. It’s quite exciting to get to see the same play, which is still fairly fresh in my memory, with new faces and new ideas for characterisation. It must’ve also been a fun challenge for the existin...

Review: British reserve hides broken hearts in BETRAYAL at the Artscape
by Faeron Wheeler - October 24, 2022

It felt to me like the play moved in gasps. The characters and the momentum of the play seemed to hold still like they were holding their breath, and then there’d be a rush of movement and emotion as if everyone was gasping for air before holding it all in again....

Review: A PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY is on at the Masque Theatre
by Faeron Wheeler - October 21, 2022

It’s so good to be back at the Masque Theatre and see an amateur society show being produced again! This week I went to see a dress rehearsal of A PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, produced by Cape Town Theatre Company, just before it opened. This is an original adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic story, whic...

Review: Sylvaine Strike's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGNIA WOOLF? is powerful, punchy and in your face
by Faeron Wheeler - September 23, 2022

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGNIA WOOLF? has to be one of the most in-your-face pieces of theatre ever written, and it’s as entertaining and relevant today as it was when it debuted 60 years ago. Under the exceptional direction of Sylvaine Strike, this incredible cast had me simultaneously wanting to hide and...

Review: FORDSBURG'S FINEST Takes You on An Emotional Trip Down Memory Lane
by Faeron Wheeler - September 12, 2022

It’s quite amazing that a script written in 1997 about a fledgling democratic South Africa can still be so relevant and haunting in 2022. FORDSBURG’S FINEST by Paul Slabolepszy delivers in heart and in asking some truly tricky questions of the characters and of the audience members....

Review: Original play SO… THAT HAPPENED is on at Milnerton Playhouse
by Faeron Wheeler - September 09, 2022

It’s always exciting when one of the Cape Town societies puts on original work. SO… THAT HAPPENED is made even more interesting in that it’s a sequel or a follow-up from another original work. I really loved that director and writer Werner Asher Steffen and Milnerton Players were able to bring back ...

Review: THE SHELL SINGER Is an Artistic Exploration of A Raw Nerve
by Faeron Wheeler - August 18, 2022

Actress Imke du Toit throws herself into the piece body and soul. Everything about her physicality and her voice says that this character is completely immersed in the turmoil of this nightmare landscape conjured up by the character’s mind....

Review: Sophie Joans is hilarious and captivating in ÎLE
by Faeron Wheeler - August 17, 2022

I’d heard a lot about ÎLE after its highly successful run at the National Arts Festival earlier this year. It won a Gold Standard Bank Ovation Award and audiences had raved about it. So, it’s safe to say that my expectations were high, and the show did not disappoint....

Review: Cape Town City Ballet brings the romance of ROMEO AND JULIET to the Artscape
by Faeron Wheeler - August 07, 2022

Cape Town City Ballet's rendition of ROMEO AND JULIET is a rich tapestry of music, dance, colour and emotion. The score is exquisite, and it was an absolute treat to have it played live by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under internationally renowned guest conductor Jonathan Lo. A live orchest...

Review: A DOUBLE BILL from LAMTA is Clever and Hilarious at Theatre On The Bay
by Faeron Wheeler - July 30, 2022

For their 2022 acting showcase, LAMTA offered audiences a very clever DOUBLE BILL. In the first half of the evening, we saw Anton Chekov’s classic THE SEAGULL. After interval, we were treated to STUPID F@CKING BIRD – a parody of the former written by Aaron Posner. I honestly had such a laugh through...

Review: Fiona Coyne's award-winning CAREFUL is on at Milnerton Playhouse
by Faeron Wheeler - July 16, 2022

The characters in CAREFUL are really well-rounded and the story develops in a very clever way. I enjoyed this offering from Milnerton Players and it was great to be back at this lovely theatre after two years....

Review: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is an explosion of joy on the Baxter Flipside stage
by Faeron Wheeler - July 13, 2022

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is a joyous expression of music and dance from start to finish. It’s feel-good musical theatre at its best and this production from Wêla Kapela is just wonderful. I had a blast in the audience from the moment I walked into the auditorium....

Review: THE GREAT GATSBY Heralds a Triumphant Opening for The Star Theatre At HCC
by Faeron Wheeler - July 01, 2022

THE GREAT GATSBY is one of my absolute favourite books – the characters, the landscape, the era are all so beautifully described by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This stage adaptation by Stephan Fourie and directed by Neil Leachman did not disappoint. It is a joyous spectacle up on stage that stayed beautifu...

Review: DIE GOEIE PA at The Drama Factory Is an Exceptional Piece of Gritty Storytelling
by Faeron Wheeler - June 29, 2022

DIE GOEIE PA is a gritty tale based on true events, and this Afrikaans version pulls no punches. It’s must-see theatre....

Review: LAMTA'S COME TOGETHER Will Make You Want to Get up And Dance
by Faeron Wheeler - June 23, 2022

What did our critic think? The latest dance production from LAMTA is a celebration of so many things – dancing, theatre, music and performance excellence. Sitting at The Theatre on the Bay, watching these talented young performers up on stage, you can easily forget that these are actually students d...

Review: IMBILINI... MY FRIEND! at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio
by Faeron Wheeler - June 22, 2022

IMBILINI… MY FRIEND! is a moving piece of physical theatre that has been carefully crafted for the stage. The chemistry between the two real-life friends, who also wrote and perform this original piece, is natural and completely tangible as you sit watching them move on stage....

BWW Review: BLOOD KNOT at the Baxter will draw you into Fugard's world
by Faeron Wheeler - May 17, 2022

The careful and clever direction by James Ngcobo, mixed with the finely tuned performances of Francois Jacobs and Mncedisi Shabangu, draws you completely into their world. The team strikes an excellent balance between the lighter, comic moments and the hard, cruel truth of the story....

BWW Review: UNCLE MARC And a Whole Lot of Glamour at The Baxter Theatre Centre
by Faeron Wheeler - May 13, 2022

On Wednesday evening, the Baxter Theatre Centre became a very glamorous spot. The Main Theatre now the Pam Golding Theatre, in honour of the late real estate giant and a generous sponsorship agreement. The evening was capped off by the opening performance of Marc Lottering’s latest stand-up show UNC...

BWW Review: Powerful Voices Take You On A Journey In FEELING PRETTY
by Faeron Wheeler - April 26, 2022

It’s a strong and important story told mostly through song – and some incredibly powerful voices – about how society sees women as just pretty faces....

BWW Review: THE LAST FIVE YEARS Will Break Hearts at Theatre On The Bay
by Faeron Wheeler - March 30, 2022

I was so excited when THE LAST FIVE YEARS was announced two years ago, and I was genuinely gutted for the entire production team when they had to postpone due to COVID. Some serious dedication went into keeping this dream alive and after getting to see opening night, I can safely say that it was wor...

BWW Review: SHIRLEY VALENTINE from VR Theatrical
by Faeron Wheeler - March 15, 2022

Director Gina Shmukler, actress Natasha Sutherland and VR Theatrical have done an incredible job putting this production of SHIRLEY VALENTINE together....

BWW Review: KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN is a True Tour De Force at The Baxter Golden Arrow Studio
by Faeron Wheeler - March 15, 2022

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN is an absolute treat for theatre lovers and the Baxter Theatre should be proud to present it....

BWW Review: LIFE & TIMES OF MICHAEL K at Baxter Theatre is a haunting story skilfully told
by Faeron Wheeler - March 09, 2022

The South African premiere of JM Coetzee's LIFE & TIMES OF MICHAEL K, adapted for the stage by Lara Foot in collaboration with the Handspring Puppet Company, is finally here. The story is haunting and the incredibly layered approach to telling it on stage is quite mesmerising and intriguing....

BWW Review: BRYAN SCHIMMEL - MORE THAN A HANDFUL at The Drama Factory
by Faeron Wheeler - February 08, 2022

This autobiographical look at his life is a truly inspiring piece of theatre and Bryan Schimmel is so brave and honest in it. All of it is delivered through a quirky, dead pan sense of humour that is great....