(Reviews from the
artSMart team currently in Grahamstown at the National Arts Festival)
(David Muller)
David Muller tells Herman Charles Bosman stories with skill
and panache. (Review by Keith Millar)
One of the important aspects of any stage production is the
quality of its script. So when the material being used has been written none
other than by much-loved South African author, Herman Charles Bosman, the
production is probably off to a pretty good start.
However, it still takes a good actor to bring the words to
life, and to create the magic on the stage. This is exactly what David Muller
does with his charming production at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown,
More Oom Schalk Stories.
Muller takes on the persona of Bosman’s ubiquitous
story-teller, Oom Schalk Lourens. Dressed in his khakis, veldskoene and floppy
hat, he relates the hilarious antics of larger than life characters that
populate the Groot Mariko district of the Lowveld.
Included in Muller’s programme are favourite Bosman stories
such as Starlight in the Veld, Susana and
the Play Actor, A Bekkersdaal Marathon, The Brothers and Willem Prisloo’s Peach
Brandy.
When growing up, many of us had a grandfather or favourite
uncle who would sit on the veranda or in front of the fire and regale us with
improbable tall stories. Well, David Muller is that story-teller. His style is
intimate and chatty, and he tells the stories with skill and panache. He is a
worthy successor to the late, great Patrick Mynhardt who toured the country for
30 years performing Herman Charles Bosman’s stories.
More Oom Schalk
Stories will be on at the Library Hall in Grahamstown until July 11.
The good news for Durban audiences is that David Muller will
bring his production to the Seabrooke’s Theatre at Durban High School from July
15 to 26. - Keith Millar
For more information
on the National Arts Festival click on the banner advert at the top of this
page or visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
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