LOVE IN A PICKLE

(Kogie Naidoo and Maeshni Naicker appear in a volatile relationship!)

Entertaining evening of new script by new writer augurs well. (Review by Caroline Smart)

Last night saw a couple of “firsts” for me. Firstly, the introduction of a new and highly promising writer for theatre and film and, secondly, my first visit to the Durban North Conference Centre.

Love in a Pickle is a show written by Jithen Premrajh and presented at what I hope will become a popular supper theatre/cabaret venue. The Crown Theatre is situated at the Durban North Conference Centre which is less than ten minutes away from the junction where Umgeni Road becomes North Coast Road, also branching off towards Makro to the West and the Umgeni Bird Park to the East. It is easily accessible and has onsite parking.

The Crown Theatre holds about 150 people, there is a cash bar and light snacks are available.

Premrajh’s writing is mainly humorous and Love in a Pickle offers an evening of fun and laughter and this comedic content is safe in the hands of well-known comedy stalwarts, Maeshni Naicker and Kogie Naidoo who carry the show as they pursue their battling relationship of one-upmanship as the wife and mother-in-law of a successful doctor. As Dr Moodley, Naren Sanker gives a consistently strong performance as he tries to keep this volatile relationship under control and ensure that his daughter Priya is given the future she deserves. As Priya, Perlisha Somiah is charming and attractive. She has some important speeches regarding a young Indian woman’s situation in 1990 (when the play is set) and she handles these well.

The Moodley family moves from Chatsworth to Umhlanga which requires a major adjustment in their lives. An added complication arises when Eric Viljoen, the elder son of their Afrikaans next-door-neighbour, starts showing interest in Priya. Marco Kotze is a likeable Eric with Elzette Smith as his long-suffering mother and Eben van de Merwe as his gay younger brother.

Also appearing are Shakti Matura as Sheila and Sinikiwe Sifumba as the maid. Premrajh and Chirag Patel are a delight as the possible husbands for Priya.

Apart from Naicker and Naidoo, most of the cast are newcomers to the stage and it’s hats off to Premrajh for directing the piece in such a way that the experience gaps do not show.

The stage and setting is very basic with various items of furniture indicating the locations. However, I believe that this is a venue that can be explored and experimented with and, considering the pro-active and passionate team behind it, I am sure that this will not take long.

Many of the issues in 1990 that challenged young women with the capacity to be financially independent are still in place today and Premrajh brings these out in his script. I look forward to seeing more work from him.

Love in a Pickle runs until September 8 at the Crown Theatre at the Durban North Conference Centre, 5 Northview Road in Durban North. Performances Monday to Saturday at 19h30 (Sunday at 14h30 and 18h30),Tickets R50 on weekdays (R90 over weekends) booked through Computicket and also available at the conference centre at the door on the night. Snacks, food and a cash bar will be available. More information on 031 563 9176. – Caroline Smart

MBUSO KHOZA IN CONCERT

(Mbuso Khoza)

Mbuso Khoza will appear at the KZNDSA Gallery this evening (August 30) at the KZNSA Gallery and on Sunday (September 1) at the BAT Centre.

Mbuso Khoza is blessed with an enchanting singing voice, he takes to music-making with a natural ease. His debut album, Zilindile, is testimony to a blend of song-writing, lyric crafting and vocalising skills of the most angelic order. Khoza’s knack for working with supremely gifted musicians makes his sound all the more compelling. The Khoza that the world is about to meet is now an accomplished vocalist, composer and arranger. Under his belt are successful stints as a session artist, back-up vocalist and a solo artist with a mission. Khoza is a Metro Music Award 2013 winner in the Best Contemporary Jazz Category.

Having worked extensively on composer, arranger and pianist Themba Mkhize’s various projects, Khoza went on to sharpen his skills with Thandiswa Mazwai, Siphokazi, Sibongile Khumalo and even successful House music outfit, Revolution amongst others.

This journey has also seen him touring France – where he performed in Cannes at a Miriam Makeba tribute concert. He has also performed in Portugal, Switzerland, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali and Senegal as part of various South African musicians’ tours.

Defying all known categories, Khoza’s music can be best described as the meeting of the isiZulu and West African idioms. Not surprising from a man who lists Cameroon’s Richard Bona, Mali’s Salief Keita and KwaZulu’s Princess Magogo, Sibongile Khumalo and Busi Mhlongo as some of his biggest influences.

Having worked with the awe-inspiring Nduduzo Makhathini for the Zilindile project, Khoza went on to assemble a great band of musicians to embark on a promotional tour. Appearances in prestigious events such as the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz (2012 & 2013), Ugu Jazz Festival and Siyagiya Arts and Cultural Festival, among others, are early confirmation of the potency of Khoza’s music. Joyous Celebration 17 opens with Khoza’s solo, yet another recognition of his growing status as an authentic talent.

The concert is supported by Concerts SA and SAMRO Foundation and organised by The Headroom.

The first performance takes place on August 30 at 18h30 at the KZNSA, Gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban. R60 booked through 031 201 9969.

The second performance takes place on September 1 at 14h30 at Afriportico, BAT Centre, Durban. Entry R60 booked through 083 3788140.

STEVE NEWMAN @ BLUESTOCKINGS

“The indomitable Steve Newman returns once more to the bluestockings enclave, after a long drought of Steve’s particular guitar magic,” comes the news from the popular bluestockings venue in Kloof. “Here is a man with no airs and graces, but a strong desire to share the eloquent and harmonious language of music through his weapon of choice – the guitar, of which Steve has many, most of them hand crafted by master guitar crafters – fitting for a master guitar player.”

Steven Newman will appear at bluestockings this evening (August 30) at 19h30. Artist donation R80 and pre-ordered cuisine (R60).

Bookings on 074 1192 999 or 083 659 3628. For more information on Steven Newman, visit www.stevenewman.co.za

JOMBA OPENING

(Francisco Camacho in "The King in Exile")

Jomba! Artistic Director launches battle cry at opening of annual dance festival. (Review by Caroline Smart)

Last night saw the opening of the 15^th Jomba! Festival presented under the auspices of the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Welcoming the near-capacity audience in her opening speech, the Artistic Director of Jomba!, Lliane Loots, paid tribute to those organisations and individuals who made the festival possible as well as the dancers and choreographers who continued to produce critical and thought-provoking work.

Loots’s opening speeches are always impassioned, an indication of the driving and selfless force that is behind her award-winning Flatfoot Dance Company. This year’s speech was no different and the subject matter was, sadly, no different. Always outspoken and critical, she bemoaned the fact that South Africa’s government policies seem to honour the formation of regulating structures rather than creative ones. In the process, this silences contemporary art-makers who are finding themselves without long-term funding support. She put forward the battle cry that the integrity of creative artists was being challenged and that it is their duty to be the “never silent conscience of the nation.”

The opening programme presented two works: B.L.E.N.D. choreographed by local Durban-based dancer Desiré Davids and Hélène Cathala of France, as well as The King in Exile, choreographed by Francisco Camacho (Portugal).

Working with suspended and floor-based neon lights as well as portable speakers, movable set pieces and evocative video imaging, B.L.E.N.D. offers a collaboration between a “coloured” South African dancer and a “white” French dancer who look at their various lives and backgrounds and how they connect in the South Africa of today. The way the title is written is a strong indication of what is to come. The word “blend” means merging, combining, unifying. However, the full-stop between each letter indicates that this is not an easy process. This is carried out effectively in the work as the dancers connect, disconnect, dance together but not in tandem, distance themselves from each other and eventually dance in unison. A strong feature is their partial removal of their tops – almost as if they were trying to get out of their own skin.

The King In Exile is a stark and powerful solo piece featuring Francisco Camacho and drawing its inspiration from the figure of Dom Manuel II, the last king of Portugal. More historical background would have been helpful here in order to better understand the character portrayed. Trapped by the baggage of a royal robe of fur and a briefcase full of red sand, Carnacho presented an excellent performance, made more compelling as much by the silences as by the skilful choice of music. We saw man of noble birth made a king but trapped in exile committed to die for his country but powerless to reign.

Both dance works were filled with impressive movement and imagery. However, with both pieces, the choreographers’ voyage towards their goal or message became too convoluted, with the important aims they were trying to convey dangerously reaching the point where they drowned in over-exposure. Less is always more, however difficult this is for a creative artist to accept.

However, I do urge audiences to support their second performance tonight (August 29) and to take part in the post-show discussion which is bound to be interesting and revealing. Wish I could be there!

The 15th annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience runs until September 8 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at 19h30. Tickets R50 (R35 scholars/students/pensioners) booked through Computicket (or at venue from one hour before). For more information, visit www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or Facebook (JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience) and Twitter (Twitter@Jomba_dance) – Caroline Smart

SUGAR BAY

Situated on the KZN north coast, Sugar Bay is the ultimate holiday adventure for children aged 7 to 17. It is the only American-style summer camp in South Africa and offers themed camps every school holiday.

“Business leaders today have problems with their employees in that they lack creativity in the workplace. Employees will do the same thing over and over again and stay within a comfort zone not trying anything out of the ordinary.”

So says Roma van Staden of Sugar Bay who handled holiday bookings. She continues: “Being exposed to creative activities as a child encourages the creative process to take place which in turn involves experimentation. However art presented at school level is very structured. The reality of the situation is that teachers follow a curricular with set activities and objectives given and the whole class needs to conform to this. Support for creative activities as an extra mural in schools is not as widespread as sport with many schools only concentrating on sport.

“At holiday camps children are encouraged to participate in range of creative activities which range from drama to painting, tie-dying to making dreamcatchers, papermaking to beadwork and so much more. These activities give the children opportunities to interact with each other and develop creative solutions / ideas while doing an enjoyable activity at camp. This helps to strengthen communication skills and team work, a great plus for the shy child who can be heard within the group without the spotlight falling on them.

“Creative activities at holiday camps also give an avenue of opportunity for children to make choices and solve problems. Every step in a project needs a decision, what colour to select, which object to place where, the next step to add to a dance routine. This also encourages the child to think out of the box and try new ideas where mistakes are ok, and the project becomes their own expression of their imagination.

“Creative drama activities also help children to feel the thrill of appropriate risk taking. Participating in a talent show for the first time will give a camper a thrill and adrenaline rush but show that this can be achieved in a wholesome environment. Impromptu activities like skits and stunts or a Dutch auction helps children develop the ability to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions in a limited time frame. These activities also increase self-esteem in campers as they have planned, practised, performed and achieved a goal.”

A ten year study has found that children who have been exposed to creative activities are four times more likely to win an academic award and eight times more likely to receive a community service award. These creative mind sets are carried through into adulthood and help them to become top achievers.

Sugar Bay is situated at 21 Nkwazi Drive, Zinkwazi Beach. For more information visit http://www.sugarbay.co.za or contact 082 525 9503 or 032 485 3778.