(Pic:Steven Stead, Alison Cassels, Karen von Pletsen, Lisa Bobbert, Frances Currie and Anthony Stonier)Supporters of local theatre personality fill Sneddon Theatre for benefit concert. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Veteran Durban actor, writer and director Garth Anderson has made a considerable contribution to the performing arts industry in Durban and further afield in South Africa, either through his work as an actor or director or through his Actors’ Co-operative theatre company and his focus on children’s theatre.
He is the recipient of the National Vita Award for direction (White Men with Weapons), and has won numerous awards for his work in classics such as Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.
Diagnosed with diabetes seven years ago, Garth Anderson has become more and more physically debilitated. Both his legs have been amputated just below the knee and he faces further operations in the future. Unable to work, he is currently living in Cheshire Homes and has become dependent on the generosity of several friends and the support of the theatre community.
In order to salute Garth Anderson’s many achievements and to alleviate his financial burden, the multi-award winning production company KickstArt decided to put on a benefit concert with the help of acclaimed stand-up comedian Mark Banks, a long-term friend of Garth Anderson, and top notch Durban performers – all giving freely of their time.
With actress Alison Cassels acting as a gracious host, Mark Banks providing hilarious comedy in the second half, the show was themed around two of Garth’s greatest loves: comedy and Noel Coward.
In the first half of the show, a receptive and near-capacity audience saw the inimitable Lisa Bobbert and Anthony Stonier accompanied with much humour by distinguished maestro Andrew Warburton perform some of the hilarious numbers from their smash-hit production, Brutal Tunes. Singing well-known songs by Noel Coward were Karen von Pletsen, Frances Currie and Shelley MacLean.
Also providing piano accompaniment, Justin Southey impressed with his support of Steven Stead in Coward’s version of Loch Lomond. Here audiences were reminded that Steven Stead is equally skilled as a vocalist as he is an actor and director, his clipped speech and strong focus being well suited to Coward’s works.
Before and after the show as well as during the interval, there were numerous cries of recognition as those in the acting industry were reunited with former colleagues on the local theatre scene – many living outside of South Africa - who happened to be in the country at the time and had made the effort to attend.
The management of The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and the producers of A Handful of Keys are to be commended for having donated the use of the theatre for the evening while Computicket generously waived their surcharges / commissions.
A surprise of the evening was a painting donated by no less than stand-up comedian/satirist John Vlismas who has taken up painting. This work will be raffled to raise further funds for Garth. Watch this space for further details.
For those wishing to make a further donation, the account is held with Nedbank Musgrave. Branch Code: 130126; Account number: 2515038638 – Caroline Smart
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