(Graham Hopkins,
Jonathan Roxmouth & Anthony Fridjhon. Pic by Jesse Kramer)
Superbly directed and presented delicious
piece of Perfect Nonsense. (Review by Caroline Smart)
After sell-out performances and rave
reviews in Cape Town and Johannesburg, KickstArt’s long-awaited Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense has
finally reached Durban and opened on Thursday night. Sadly, load-shedding meant
the production came to a grinding halt at interval much to the huge
disappointment of all concerned.
However, I managed to catch the full un-loadshedded
show this evening and, even having seen the first half before, remained
entranced and delighted throughout.
Presented in association with Pieter
Toerien, the play is another major achievement for the multi-multi- award
winning KickstArt run by director Steven Stead and designer Greg King.
Performed by three of South Africa’s top actors highly skilled in comedy – the extraordinarily
talented Graham Hopkins, Jonathan Roxmouth and Robert Fridjhon - it’s a superbly
directed and performed presentation of this delicious smash hit West End comedy
For the uninitiated, Jeeves is a character
created by the late Sir Pelham Grenville (P G) Wodehouse. Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense
is a new play adapted from his works by the Goodale Brothers and was first
performed in London in 2013. The production is set in the early 1930’s and
Jeeves is valet to the aristocratic and likeable but none-too-bright Bertie
Wooster.
It takes the format of Bertie Wooster
relating his experiences at a weekend visit to Totleigh Towers where his friend
has asked for his intervention in a personal matter. Slight problem. Bertie
only has Jeeves and his aunt’s butler Seppings to portray a myriad of
characters.
Fridjohn is called on to play Seppings as
well as the bellowing Dahlia Travers, a tetchy policeman, the bandy-legged Butterfield
and the towering Roderick Spode as well as an antique dealer. In a mind-blowing
performance, Hopkins handles roles from the imperturbable Jeeves to the newt-collecting
excitable Gussie Fink-Nottle, the stuffy Sir Watkin Bassett and the two ditsy young
women, Madeline Bassett and Stiffy Bing. In the middle of all this chaos Jonathan
Roxmouth holds it all together as an endearing and lovable Bertie.
The play is full of clever lines, hilarious
scenes such as a drive into the country and highly effective set pieces. The terms
lightning costume change or quick character reversal must surely top the record
in this play. If you want a delightful evening out, you can’t go wrong here.
Don’t miss it!
Jeeves
& Wooster in Perfect Nonsense runs at the
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN campus until February 15 with performances from
Tuesday to Saturday at 19h30 with a matinee on Saturday at 14h30 and at 18h00
on Sunday. Booking is at Computicket (www.computicket.co.za or 0861 915 8000). For
sold performances or group bookings, contact Ailsa Windsor of Going Places: editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com
or 083 250 2690.
There is a Valentine’s Day Gala Performance
on February 14 at 19h30, with welcoming glasses of sparkling wine included in
the ticket price. The ideal date: classy, stylish and irresistibly enjoyable! -
Caroline Smart
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