Review: VASLAV at Milnerton Playhouse
A spellbinding portrait of genius, madness and extraordinary performance.
VASLAV (written by Lara Bye, Karen Jeynes and Godfrey Johnson) and directed by Lara Bye is a mesmerising and deeply unsettling theatrical experience that lingers long after the final moment. Drawing on the diaries of legendary dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, the production explores the brilliance and psychological unravelling of an artist caught between genius and madness.
At the centre of the work is Godfrey Johnson, whose performance is nothing short of masterful. Johnson transforms seamlessly between characters, altering his voice, posture and physicality with extraordinary precision and emotional depth. His command of the stage is remarkable, shifting effortlessly from Nijinsky’s fractured inner world to the outside voices that observe, criticise or attempt to understand him.
Equally impressive is Johnson’s virtuosity at the piano, which becomes far more than accompaniment. The music underscores the emotional and psychological intensity of the piece, at times reflecting the beauty of Nijinsky’s artistry and at others descending into disturbing chaos that vividly conveys the character’s mental disintegration. There are moments in the production that feel genuinely uncomfortable to watch and hear — the audience is forced to confront the rawness of madness without sentimentality or distance.
Yet the production balances this darkness with moments of wit, commentary and humanity as Johnson embodies the various figures surrounding Nijinsky’s life and career. These shifts provide relief while also deepening the portrait of a man both celebrated and tragically isolated.
Under the assured direction of Lara Bye, with movement direction by Fiona Du Plooy, musical arrangement and composition by Godfrey Johnson, the production achieves a rare synthesis of theatre, music and movement. The audience remained spellbound throughout, completely drawn into the emotional and psychological complexity unfolding on stage.
VASLAV is more than a performance — it is a work of art: intellectually rigorous, emotionally devastating and brilliantly executed.
Show Dates and Times:
Evenings 19:30: Friday 8, 15, 22; Saturday 9, 16, 23 May 2026
Matinees 14:30: Saturday 16, 23; Sunday 10, 24 May 2026
What: VASLAV Godfrey Johnson
Venue: Milnerton Playhouse Theatre, 81 Pienaar Road, Milnerton
Tickets: Here
Social media: Instagram: @milnerton_players | Facebook: @milnerton_players | Website: www.milnertonplayers.co.za
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