DIARIES OF A DOWN AND OUT DIVA

Lisa Bobbert directs Tonya Koenderman in entertaining supper theatre show.

“Had a dreadful show last night. It didn’t help that my botox was nearly worn off, and I’m squeezed into a size seven shoe. Eight just makes my feet look enormous.” Thus begins the diary of our anti-heroine diva, played by Tonya Koenderman.

Directed by Tonya’s long-time friend, and Durban’s darling, Lisa Bobbert, Diaries of a Down and Out Diva is described as a funny, charming and sometimes downright embarrassing story of one diva’s climb to, then from, then climb to glory. Then fall from it again. One quickly learns that being in show business is not all about glitz and glamour: There’s the time our diva falls flat on her face as she trips over a wire onstage; or when an enthusiastic audience member tugs at her skirt, and the whole thing comes off. Oh, and let’s not forget about when an over-zealous dancer removed more than just a jacket, leaving our diva naked-breasted for all to see. Fortunately, she’d just had them done.

Of course, what is a Diva without music? The story is interspersed with a repertoire of diva-appropriate songs: I’m a Woman from Smokey Joe’s Café, Le Jazz Hot from Victor Victoria, I Who Have Nothing by Shirley Bassey, It Was a Very Good Year by Frank Sinatra, Mack the Knife, and The Blues in the Night to name but a few.

Diaries of a Down and Out Diva runs at Rhumbelow Theatre on January 23 and 24 at 20h00 and January 25 at 18h30. The venue opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.

Tickets R80. Take along food picnic baskets and braais will be available. There is limited secure parking and booking is essential. A cash bar is available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises). Rhumbelow Theatre is situated in Cunningham Avenue off Bartle Road.

To book contact Roland on 031 205 7602 (h) or 082 499 8636, or email roland@stansell.za.net