(Bongani Mbatha. Pic by Val Adamson)
Copy Dog in association with The
Playhouse Company will present Sweetie
Darling, a new one-man stage comedy by multiple award-winning
playwright-director Clinton Marius (Lollipop
Lane, The Fantastical Flea Circus, B!*ch Stole My Doek). Starring the
popular Durban actor, Bongani Mbatha, Sweetie
Darling will play in The Loft Theatre from July 19 to 24.
Sweetie Darling is a
romantic comedy about a young man who goes all out to prove himself. While he
sets up a picnic in the park for his sweetheart, he recounts the ups and downs
of his journey to happiness. As he finds himself, and love, he also finds his
path to spiritual growth.
The production made its debut
performance in January 2016 at Durban’s Musho! Festival where it won the
coveted Suliman Family Trust award for the best production on the festival, as
well as a judges’ award. Keith Millar’s review for artSMart states: “Clinton Marius’ script is very funny. While
most of the humour is situational, there are many topical quips which are quite
hilarious. His understanding of the characteristics and nature of a culture
other than his own is remarkable. Marius’s deft hand was also apparent as the
director of the production.”
Actor Bongani Mbatha made his
professional debut in 2000, performing in The Playhouse Company’s New Stages
production, Nomalizo by Bonginkosi
Shangase. Subsequent hits include among others, the award-winning Maluju Zulu at the Market Theatre
(2003), Ngicela uxolo (2008), Kudela Owawziyo (2009), Sophiatown (2013), All Gone and Skungpoomery
(2014).
The production went on to score a hit
at the Hexagon Theatre’s Mini Festival in Pietermaritzburg in February and played
on the 2016 National Arts Festival Fringe in Grahamstown. It has just returned
from appearing in the University of the Witwatersrand’s 969 Festival in
Johannesburg.
Sweetie Darling will run
in The Playhouse Loft from July 19 to 24. Performances will be at 19h30 from
Tuesday to Saturday (July 19 to 23), and on Sunday (July 24) at 14h30. Tickets R50
(Tuesday and Wednesday performances) and R85 (Friday to Sunday). Booking is
through Computicket on 0861 915 8000 or at www.computicket.com. Bookings can also be made via the Playhouse Box
Office on 031-369 9540 (office hours).
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@_CopyDog or Instagram at –COPYDOG.
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