Well done! A+ for honest endeavour! (Review by Keith Millar)
Karl Valentin was a Bavarian comic genius of the 1920’s who was often
described as the “Charlie Chaplin of Germany”. His absurdist slap-stick comedy
style is said to have inspired and informed no less than Chaplin himself, The
Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd and even to an extent the Mr.
Bean Character.
Valentin wrote and performed in numerous films skits, cabaret shows and
comedy sketches. Unfortunately, he worked in a Bavarian dialect which is
difficult to translate and as a result little of his output is known outside
Bavaria.
Until now, that is. Dr. Pamela Tancsic is the senior lecturer in the Durban
University of Technology Drama Studies Programme. She was born and bred in
Munich and grew up in using the same Bavarian dialect as Valentin. She was
recently granted translation and performance rights by the publishers of
Valentin’s works, Drei Masken Verlag GmbH and, as a result, translated four of
his comedy sketches into English She then collaborated with Durban playwright
Gisele Turner to transcribe and adapt them for a stage performance.
It is this excellent material which has been given to the students of
the DUT Department of Drama and Production Studies for their first production
of 2013.
The cast, made up of students from the first, second and third-years
groups, all approach their performances with unbridled enthusiasm, relish and
passion. The pace is hectic and the few errors which do occur can be forgiven
as the students will learn valuable lessons during the week that this
production runs.
The highlight for me was the sketch entitled The Repaired Spotlight in which two bumbling electricians, played
by Thandanani Qwabe (in the Valentin role) and Thuso Mathe prove to be an
absolute danger to themselves and the rest of the cast while attempting to
repair a faulty spotlight. There are moments of superbly choreographed slapstick
involving a two metre long ladder which has everyone ducking for cover. An
entertaining and energetic performance by both young men.
All the other sketches had very funny moments. For example, in The Visit To The Theatre Lloyd Minkhatu
(again the Valentin role) gazes vainly into a mirror and combs his bald head.
He also has a hilarious sword fight with his wife (Holly Gxubane) using forks
and spaying mashed potato all around.
In The Photographic Studio
there is a comical bride and groom. A thin young man on stilts, well over two
metres tall, has a pretty and petite little bride who only reaches his waist.
Getting them to pose for photographs leads to all sorts of riotous fun.
Overall, however, the delivery of the actors in these sketches is rather
stilted. It is as if they are delivering their lines one by one to the audience
rather than conversing with each other. Allowing for first night nerves it
should be possible for the director to tighten up in this area as the run
progresses.
A disappointing factor about last night’s visit to the Courtyard Theatre
is that the Bar/Kiosk called the Courtyard Arms was not stocked and there were
no refreshments of any sort available, except for the glasses of wine and juice
handed out to the favored few. An awkward situation all round.
Karl Valentin in
Durban is one for the lovers of absurd comedy, with clever word play and some
side splitting, knock about slap-stick thrown in. As this is a student
production, I would like add the following comments to their report card: Well
done! A+ for honest endeavour!. Keep up the good work!
Karl Valentin In
Durban runs until March 1 at 19h00 every night at the Courtyard Theatre at
DUT. Tickets R35 at the door. For more details contact Lebohang Sibisi on 031
373 2194. - Keith Millar
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