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Sanders South Africa and Play Club, the Book Club for Theatre Lovers, continues its series on "Identity" with Ken Ludwig's screwball hit LEND ME A TENOR, now celebrating the 25th anniversary of its hit Broadway run.
This reading will be starring Adrian Galley (I HATE HAMLET) as Tito Morelli and will be featuring Andre Jacobs (SABC1's THE INTERROGATION ROOM) as Saunders. The rest of the company is to include Daniel Barnett (THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS) as Max, Luella Holland (LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN) as Maggie, Laura Bosman (GUYS AND DOLLS) as Tito's wife Maria, Luke Tyler (DARK TIDE) as the Bellhop, Candice van Litsenborgh (SUNSET BOULEVARD) as opera diva Diana and Tandi Buchin (TheatreSports) as Julia. The panel for the afternoon will feature director and UCT professor Chris Weare along with director and London's Italia Conti lecturer Richard James Wright-Firth. Stage directions to be read by Chi Mhende (SPECIAL THANKS TO GUESTS FROM AFAR) and is to be moderated by New York producer and director, Drew Rienstra, the artistic director of Chase The Sun Productions.
Nominated for nine Tony Awards, winner of three Drama Desk Awards and London's Olivier Award for Best Comedy of the Year, LEND ME A TENOR is a wildly entertaining farce. The renowned tenor "Il Stupendo" is scheduled to sing the lead in the opera Otello. Chaos ensues when his wife mistakenly leaves him a "Dear John" letter and the distraught singer is accidentally given a double dose of tranquilizers. What follows is a lough-out-loud chain reaction of door-slamming mistaken identity, farcical plot twists, double entendres and musical mayhem!
Since the play's premiere in 1986, it has gone on to Broadway twice, the West End twice and was even adapted into a musical, playing the West End in 2011. The original production was called OPERA BUFFA, produced by none other than Andrew Lloyd Webber himself at London's Gielgud Theatre. It has since been translated into sixteen languages in twenty-five countries.
Play Club is a monthly initiative of Chase The Sun to build a community among theatre lovers. This brings a well-established New York theatre platform, where the simplicity of a script reading becomes an intimate forum to discover the best modern plays, debut new talent, and allow for engaged discussions. The panel consists of top industry professionals to add commentary and insight, making it a truly memorable evening. Play Club has played host to some of South Africa's top and up-and-coming actors, directors, educators, filmmakers, producers, playwrights and composers, all mixed with theatregoers who share their passion for the theatre. Play Club's last reading, THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS, received rave reviews for its presence in South Africa's theatre scene. The event will once again be featuring Cape Town chocolatier, Rococoa and the wine of Tangled Tree. Play Club is part of Arts Tastings, which is sponsored by Sanders South Africa
LEND ME A TENOR will be presented on Sunday, 16 June at 3:30pm at Knight Fine Furnishings in Sanders' showroom in The Palms Centre, Woodstock. Tickets are available on Quicket at R150 for general audiences and R75 for SAGA members and students. The booking includes wine, snacks and a copy of the script. Parking is free for all attendees of Play Club in The Palms off-street, covered parking.
