Performances an absolute delight in enjoyable and
entertaining production. (Review by Keith Millar)
Bringing down the curtain on the performance side of the 10th
Musho! Festival at the Catalina Theatre last night, and deservedly walking off
with the prestigious Audience Choice Award at the same time, was the wonderful physical
theatre production of Bru.
Written and performed by the very talented duo of Sandi
Dlangala and Mikey Fredrick von Bardeleben and directed by Josh Martin, Bru is a high energy rollercoaster of
action, fun and laughter as two young surfer dudes prove that they are willing
to go to any lengths to catch a wave.
The two surfers have been sent to a boarding school in
Johannesburg, away from the temptation of the waves, to complete their
schooling. However, they find the lure of the sun, sand, surf and sea too much.
So they run away from school and embark on a crazy journey to get to Durban and
the surf.
Along the way they meet all sorts of madcap characters such
as various school teachers, parents, a computer nerd, an Indian motor bike
delivery person, a bus driver, a Free State Buddhist called Oom Frik, a ghost
and a screwball pilot.
Dlangala and von Bardeleben switch between playing the
surfers and these nutty individuals with seamless skill and excellent versatility.
The performances of both these young men were an absolute delight. Their team
work, comic timing and trust in each other speak of many hours of practice and
rehearsal.
The energy level and sense of fun they bring to their roles
is admirable. They must both be super-fit to keep the action going at the pace
it does for the duration of the production.
The use of vocal sound effects throughout the production is
great fun. The actors create everything from burglar alarms to various
motorbikes and cars using only their adaptable vocal chords. They have very
active imaginations to achieve such realistic results.
The only props used in the production were four black crates
and two surfboards. These were innovatively and cleverly positioned at high
speed to represent everything from furniture and a computer to a motor car and
an aeroplane.
Bru is a very
enjoyable and entertaining production which I am sure would convert even the
most hardened and super-cool surfer dude into a theatre lover.
The Musho! Festival
was presented by PANSA with support from the National Lottery Distribution
Trust Fund as well as Ethekwini
Municipality, the KZN Department of Arts and Culture, The Daily News, BASA, the
Catalina Theatre and The Twist Theatre Development Projects. – Keith Millar
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