(Boniwe
Majwede, Jacobus van Heerden, Nadine Oberholzer & Kendyll Plu’g. Pic by
Sean Laurenz)
Van Heerden’s tour de force performance is
a perfect showcase for his considerable versatility. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Described
as a satirical comedy Superchop is
the latest production from the multi-award winning Neon Anthems. It sets out to
parody the famous, and those desperate to be famous. Written and performed by
Jacobus Van Heerden, it is directed by Liam Magner.
It works
on the reality competition format. Eager hopefuls are presented - first in an
audiovisual format and then in person – to gain a popular public vote.
For me, this production offered a perfect
showcase of van Heerden’s versatility – I mean anyone who could act the rest of
the cast off the stage - as he did, performing on his knees as the pint-sized Lord Farquaad in KickstArt’s Shrek - has got capacity a-plenty! He
has an excellent flair for comedy and a good command of accents.
He was
completely unrecognizable as the doddery rapping Granny Bevan who uses her
music as a way of reaching out to the misguided youth to follow the Lord. Then
there was the Afrikaans crooner, master of the faux pas. Van Heerden also
produced a powerful scene of bitter pent-up anger as Romeo Pillay,the bogus
magician/clairvoyant/mindreader/mentalist and psychic who’s into slam poetry.
van Heerden gives a tour de force high energy performance
in a show that explodes
into action from the first moment. Accompanying and providing much
eye candy, as it were, are four attractive dancers who appear in a range of
costumes from bespangled cheerleader style to figure-hugging body suits with
pig noses! They are Boniwe Majwede, Nadine Oberholzer, Amber Jean Hogg and
Kendyll Samantha Plu'g. Choreography is by the award-winning David Gouldie.
This is
a satirical comedy to approach with an open mind. While the humour is never vulgar,
it doesn’t protect sacred cows and boldly – and fearlessly - explores new
ground.
Last night’s opening was bedevilled with technical
problems, to the extent that the second half of the show had to be called off.
This was a great disappointment to the
audience who had been thoroughly enjoying this show. However, no
doubt many of them will return to see the version in full as there are more
characters to come in the second half.
Superchop first previewed at the 2013 Musho! Festival
at Catalina Theatre where it won the judges’ vote award for best show. While it
has been considerably expanded in terms of set and cast, the production does get a bit lost on a stage the size of the Elizabeth Sneddon. However, there was no
doubt that it was well received by last night’s audience – mainly made up of
people in the performing arts industry who can be ultra-critical.
Superchop runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre until
March 13 with performances at 19h30 with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at
14h30. Superchop is directed by Liam
Magner and. Lighting and set by Michael Broderick and Bryan Hiles. Video
editing and audio visuals by Mark Edwards.
Tickets
available at Computicket with block bookings organised through Ailsa Windsor on
editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com or 083
250 2690.- Caroline Smart
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