Top-notch production full of clever gags
and witty dialogue. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Paul Slabolepszy is a multi-award winning
South African comedy legend and in For
Your Ears Only directed by Ralph Lawson, you don’t just get to enjoy his
writing but see him in action as well.
The play is set in a radio drama recording studio
and he is the maintenance man, Nigel. A master of malapropism. If there isn’t
enough drama with the cast trying to record a series of a soapie close on
deadline as well as inner tensions between them, he bumbles in throwing his
weight around bashing mic stands to fix them, hauling in a fire extinguisher,
fixing things that aren’t broken (like trying to oil the creaking gate),
sniffing out dog mess on people’s shoes and getting his words mixed up in the
process. At one point, he finds the studio empty and “discovers” the
microphone. Here’s his chance to show he can sing (he thinks!) and do a vast
array of animal sounds. A sublime performance!
Playing Denton, the drama director, is
another theatre legend, Michael Richard. In his 40 year career he is no
stranger to radio drama and is well-known for his voice-over work. Denton is
not having a good day – his leading man is hours late, his leading lady (who
happens to be the leading man’s wife) is throwing tantrums, the writer is
challenged by the cuts that need to be made, the young actress is offering
advice and the young actor standing in for the hero is bemused by the whole
process.
This bemusement gives Denton the opportunity
to explain to him how a drama studio works. He takes him around the room showing
him the vast array of things that make up the magic of radio - such as the
gravel boxes (for footsteps); the stairs, the doors with bolts and chains; telephones,
crockery, keys, glasses and the wind machine.
This is when audience members unfamiliar
with the workings of a radio studio should take note because at the end they
will get to see all these features incorporated in the recording, especially a
large punch bag with accompanying baseball bat!
I was sitting in the audience next to
artSMart co-reviewer Keith Millar and between us we have a long history in
radio drama – he as a drama sound technician and me as an actress/director. We give Ralph
Lawson’s set full marks. It’s absolutely perfect. At the SABC, we also had a
maintenance man come into the studio one day armed with an oil can to fix the creaking
gate!
The leading lady is Veronica, a true drama
queen, played by Louise Saint-Claire (who is married to Michael Richard in real life). She puts
in a splendid performance as her character’s moods alternate from gentleness or
bitchiness to hysterical laughter or pure rage.
The leading man, the self-opinionated
Harold, is played by Durban actor Michael Gritten whose skill in acting haughty
comes to the fore in this role. Bheki Mqadi is a delight as the much challenged
actor/playwright Bra Doc and Sibu Radebe adds to the fun as Tumi who is more
comfortable on a TV set than in a radio studio. As Pearl, Bronwyn Van Graan
brings charm to the role of the young actress who has a secret that is in
danger of being discovered.
This volatile relationship between cast and
director often erupts into complete mayhem but the inimitable Ralph Lawson
directs it all with a firm hand, keeping things from going out of control.
Don’t miss this top-notch production. It’s
full of clever gags and witty dialogue. Paul Slabolepszy is also Head Writer of
Radio Vuka and some of the play’s characters feature in this
Safm radio play.
For
Your Ears Only runs in the Playhouse Drama until December
23 and booking is at Computicket on www.computicket.co.za or from the Playhouse
Box Office on 031 369 9596. Pensioners and scholars under 18 secure discounted
tickets on presentation of ID. For block bookings which offer a discount of up
to 20% off the usual ticket price, contact Dawn Haddon on 031 369 9407. –
Caroline Smart
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