(Rowan Bartlett, Thomie
Holtzhausen, Anthony Stonier. Katy Moore and Jacobus Van Heerden with Clinton
Small in front)
Leave your inhibitions at home and take a wide open
mind along with you! (Review by Keith Millar)
It is time again for Durban’s traditional festive season, adult
pantomime. The story chosen for the treatment this year is not, as you would
expect, a children’s fairy story, but rather the greatest love story of all
time, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet.
Well, I don’t expect Shakespeare will ever be the same again.
While Romeo and Juliet – An East
Coast Story, which is written and directed by Darren King, is based on the Shakespeare
classic it also borrows liberally from West
Side Story, which is, of course, based on Romeo and Juliet. To this, King has added great dollops of ribald
humour, whacky characters, and plenty of song and dance along with the usual
pantomime audience participation. The result is a bawdy, sassy and camp rollercoaster
of laughter.
The story is given a decidedly local flavour with the action taking
place in Durban in 1958. Maria Juliet’s family comes from Amanzimtoti and Tony
Romeo’s from Umhlanga Rocks. Needless to say, these two families are poles
apart and don’t really approve of the relationship.
The leads are played by Jacobus Van Heerden and Katy Moore. They provide
the eye candy and play a pair of sweet, virginal lovers with stars in their
eyes. Their main ambition is to set up home together in Umbilo.
This sets the scene for the mad antics of the rest of the crazy cast. In
the traditional pantomime dame role, this time a shop girl called Anita, is the
irrepressible Anthony Stonier. He creates a beautifully slutty character as he swans
about the stage in his glitzy costumes, with only one thing on his mind.
Anita’s love interest is Juliet’s cousin, macho man Tye Bolt played by
Clinton Small. He is a Durban surfer dude who thinks he is irresistible to any
woman. Something he sets out to prove to a few female audience members.
Thomie Holtzhausen is hilarious in the dual roles of Juliet’s nanny
Gladys and an Indian lady by the name of Youseen. Holtzhausen is a natural
clown and is visually very funny in these roles.
The final cast member is Mnr. Sakie De Kock who is a guard from Chubby Security
(in Shakespeare?). In this role is Rowan Bartlett. He is the narrator who tells
the story and ties everything together. He is also part of the uproarious and
not very glamorous chorus line, along with Small and Holtzhausen. Their side-splitting
performance in Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
was particularly comical.
The cast sing a variety of songs during the show. Some of these are done
half seriously but in most cases, new risqué lyrics have been provided. Some of
the songs included are Downtown, Lord
It’s Hard To Be Humble, Chantilly Lace, Going To The Chapel, Second Hand Rose,
Why do Fools Fall In Love and
Something. The obligatory audience sing along song is Chuck Berry’s My Ding-A-Ling.
Romeo and Juliet– an East Coast Story is produced by Sue
Clarence Promotions. The skilled and talented technical team of Darren King,
Anthony Stonier, Bryan Hiles, Dee Small, Tina Le Roux and Megan Levy all played
their part in making sure that the production is visually very pleasing.
Durban’s adult pantomimes have been festive season
favourites for many years and there is no reason why Romeo and Juliet – An East Coast Story should be any different. But,
a warning! It is an adult show. Leave your inhibitions at home and take a wide
open mind along with you.
Romeo and Juliet – an East Coast Story, is on at The Zone, Suncoast
Casino until December 31. Shows on Tuesday to Saturday at 19h30 (Sundays at 14h00).
Doors open 90 minutes before for diners. Bring a picnic or order from one of the many
Suncoast Restaurants Full bar is available. Tickets are R150 at Computicket (no under
16’s allowed). For block bookings contact 083 250 2690. – Keith Millar
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