(Jailoshini
Naidoo & Henry Ramkissoon. Pic by Val Adamson)
Presented and performed by stage and TV personality Jailoshini Naidoo, Funniest
Moments is a special
tribute to Durban’s legendary playwright Ronnie Govender to be staged at Sibaya
Casino’s iZulu Theatre from April 16 to 19.
Two Lifetime
achievements awards, declared a Living Legend by KZN’s Premier’s office, an
Honorary Doctorate from DUT … the list of awards for Ronnie Govender goes on,
marking a lifetime of splendid achievement, notable among which is his
highly-entertaining and thought-provoking body of plays.
Who can forget SA’s
longest running play, The Lahnee’s Pleasure, or celebrated Govender
titles such as At The Edge, 1949, Off-Side!, In-Side!,
Beyond Calvary and Swami among others? These works offer hilarity
at its highest, and bathos at its most moving.
In honour of the
recent 80th Birthday of this giant of the theatre, award-winning actress
Jailoshini Naidoo, formidable in her own right as an artist, has put together Funniest
Moments, a thoroughly entertaining pastiche of memorable excerpts from
Ronnie Govender’s outstanding plays.
This theatrical
treat presented by Durban’s actress par excellence, stars Jailoshini Naidoo in
what promises to be a rollercoaster ride of superb entertainment. The
much-loved star will be supported by two other luminaries of the stage, the
brilliant singer/muso Ramesh Hassen and well known actor Henry Ramkissoon (of
The Dingalings fame) who has established himself as an outstanding comic.
Says Naidoo: “Last
year Ronnie Govender turned 80. The thought that went through my mind was that
this was a milestone in the brilliant career of a writer and director who has
been widely honoured over the years. The unswerving, often lone struggle by
this stalwart to establish non-racial theatre and his eventual list of
outstanding productions is well known. Yet while the country aptly celebrated
the 80th birthday of another luminary, Athol Fugard, we neglected to do so with
our own multi award-winning playwright. This is what motivated me, with
Govender’s permission, to put this production together.”
Having worked under
Govender often, Naidoo is well acquainted with his several box office hits, notably
The Lahnee’s Pleasure, and the internationally acclaimed At The Edge and
1949 which were based on true stories from his Commonwealth
Award-winning book, At The Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories.
“While it was a
labour of love, I must confess that selecting excerpts from all these wonderful
plays for Funniest Moments was a nightmare – simply because I had a hard
time deciding what to leave out,” Naidoo observes. The production promises a
wealth of hilarious and moving moments selected from over 16 plays written and
directed by Govender over a span of 35 years.
Funniest Moments runs at the iZulu Theatre at Sibaya Casino
from April 16 to 19 with performances on April 16 and 17 April at 08h00; April 18
at 20h30 and April 19 at 15h00 and 18h00. Tickets R120 are available at
Computicket outlets at Shoprite Checkers, or phone at 0861 915 8000 or online
at www.computicket.com.
Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
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