JIMBO

(Pic: “Jimbo” features an exuberant cast! Photo by Val Adamson)

Hit stage musical returns to The Playhouse.

Presented by the Playhouse Company, the hit stage musical Jimbo makes a welcome return to the Durban stage for a two-week season in the Playhouse Drama Theatre from July 24.

Scripted by Hamish Kyd, Jimbo depicts Durban’s coloured community during the 1960s and ’70s. It is set to original music by Siva Devar, with lyrics by Kyd and Themi Venturas, who directed the musical play’s hugely successful premiere production at the Playhouse in 1993.

Jimbo was the first stage musical to be written about coloured people in Durban. Charged with vitality and graphic humour along with its own brand of pathos, its evocative story of back-street life is played by a sharply-drawn cast of characters, headed by two hobos who tell of life lived between heaven and hell.

The play evokes distinctive landmarks such as Durban’s Indian Market and Warwick Triangle as they were 40 years ago. It remains a moving and highly entertaining tribute to the people who lived, loved, laboured and died in the area.

Themi Venturas is back in the director’s chair. R & B singer Percy Smith returns to reprise his successful portrayal of the title role, appearing opposite Kyd, the only member of the original 1993 cast, who returns to the play’s other principle role of Vishnu.

Other principal casting includes Jailoshini Naidoo, set to reprise her 2006 stage triumph as Natasha, and Sam Marais here making his role debut as Stets, the 1950’s gang leader. Others in the cast include Marcia Mzindle, Nomonde Matiwane, Grant Jacobs, Teboho “T-Bone” Hlahane, S’lindile Nodangala, Gareth Purchase, Mario Ogle, Thomie Holtzhausen, Thabo Mnguni, Rory Booth, Afzal Khan and Vivien Moodley, among others.

Jimbo runs from July 24 to August 9. Early booking is advised as the show enjoyed strong box office pull during its previous seasons at The Playhouse. Tickets range from R60 to R80 booked through Computicket at 0829158000 or the Playhouse box office on 031 369 9596 or 031 369 9540. Tickets at the door will cost between R90 and R110.