(Timothy & Stephanie
Jenkins)
Brother and sister team take up the challenge of creating their first production. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Sibling Rivalry Productions is made up of sister and brother team, Stephanie
and Timothy Jenkins, who have taken the challenging step of creating their
first production.
They are no strangers to theatre, having worked on KickstArt
productions, where they have been involved from a technical point of view
(Stephanie on lighting and Timothy backstage). So, all kudos to them for moving
into the performance field with a play written by Stephanie titled Party Poopers.
Acknowledgement is also due to well-known theatre personalities Clare
Mortimer (director), Bryan Hiles (set design/construction) and Tina le Roux (lighting
design) who have given their time freely to help the pair see their production
come to fruition.
The stage setting features a props list to be reckoned with – a chaotic muddle
of balloons, party hats, streamers and fabric. Fairy lights adorn the side
curtains. Ethan (Timothy) is unsuccessfully trying to blow up balloons. He describes
himself as a one-man party planner and it is only later we discover that this –
a venue booked for a 21st birthday party - is his first professional
gig.
In walks Alice (Stephanie). It is her birthday party – in just under an
hour’s time (the length of the play)! Dressed smartly in a corporate manner,
she is not impressed by what she sees. The party is vitally important to her as
she is determined to outshine a rival.
Her initial reaction is to fire Ethan immediately but, realising the
time factor, she decides against this and sets about getting the venue ready,
all the while grumbling that by hiring him she did not expect to do everything
herself.
In a series of flashbacks, he explains how both his grandmothers (one
English and one Afrikaans) and his favourite Gogo, inspired him. Stephanie
takes on all three roles with credibility. Things develop into a full-on spat
until a resolution is reached.
The pair handle their roles with energy and passion. They have very
promising talent and here’s wishing them all the best for future productions. With
the loss of Catalina Theatre and Stable Theatre, Durban theatre practitioners
are sorely pressed for performance venues so Seabrooke’s is proving to be a
very valuable venue.
Party Poopers runs until October 9 at the Seabrooke’s Theatre at DHS with
performances from Thursday to Saturday at 19h00 and Sunday at 14h30.
Tickets R60 (R50 students, pensioners and block-bookings) booked through
Windsor at 083 250 2690 or editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com
– Caroline Smart
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