(Jonathan Cohen)
Copy Dog proudly presents its acclaimed one-man
tragi-comedy, White Christmas, for
one performance only at the Hexagon Theatre in Pietermaritzburg on December 3.
Written and directed by multiple-award winning theatre-maker, Clinton Marius,
the production stars the swiftly-rising young Pietermaritzburg-born,
Durban-based actor, Jonathan Cohen.
In the wake of its run at Seabrooke’s Theatre in Durban in
March this year, White Christmas
recently scooped six nominations in this year’s Durban Theatre Awards, which
takes place on November 21 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. The nominations
received by Marius are for Best Director, Best New South African Script and
Best Production, while Cohen is nominated in the categories of Best Lead Actor,
Best Solo Performer and Best New Performer Male.
White Christmas
hones in on the Van Niekerk family as they go ‘upmarket’ and spend their annual
festive season holiday at the Park Rynie caravan park on the KwaZulu-Natal
South Coast. But this year’s holiday is different. Way different.
Says Pietermaritzburg-born Marius, known for his uncanny
ability to write across South Africa’s cultural divides in his benchmark radio
series, Lollipop Lane, and his multi
award-winning stage shows, The
Fantastical Flea Circus, B!*ch Stole My Doek, and Sweetie Darling: “White
Christmas is, ironically, a black comedy about a South African family’s
350-year history in this country, and where they stand today. The play is the
most personal I have written to date, as it turns a satirical spotlight on my
own family. Certain elements have been tweaked for dramatic effect, but the
bittersweet account is by-and-large a factual one.”
Appraising the production’s Durban run in March this year, artSMart
reviewer Keith Millar wrote: “This tragi-comedy one-hander showcases Marius’s
skill and insight as a writer as well as his superb use of the English
language. He has dug deep into his childhood and upbringing to create a
meaningful piece of theatre which is thought-provoking, emotional and thoroughly
entertaining… Jonathan Cohen’s performance keeps the audience transfixed from
beginning to end. The emotion, vulnerability and intensity he shows towards the
end of the play is quite breathtaking and had more than one audience member in
tears. White Christmas is a
beautifully written piece. It is the type of production which needs a very
special performance and very astute direction to bring it to life. On this
occasion this has, with distinction, happened.”
Posting on Facebook, the Mercury’s Arts Editor Billy Suter
hailed White Christmas as “a piece
glistening with vivid vignettes that starts off light and breezy and slow burns
to an ending that is unexpected and with clout. A deft script, solid direction
and a fine performance. A good show. See it!”
White Christmas
has one performance only at the Hexagon Theatre in Pietermaritzburg on December
3 at 19h30. Tickets R100 (R80 students and pensioners) booked through
Computicket on 0861 915 8000 or online at www.computicket.com. Secure parking
is provided.
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