(Philisiwe Ntintili & Jaziel Vaugh’hann. Pic by Siphokazi Khumalo)
Loads of amusement with good performances and some very
funny and clever lines. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Just opened at the small intimate supper theatre venue
at Club Altitude is the latest adult panto Twice
Upon A Mattress.
Fully titled Twice
Upon A Mattress – the Story of The Princess & The P, it represents the
22nd year that this form of entertainment has been on offer for
Durban audiences. As usual, it takes the mickey out of the traditional
pantomime format and includes many sexual innuendos and not-so-subtle humour!
However, the production never gets distasteful or offensive and the humour is
well-handled by the cast.
Written and directed by Thomie Holtzhausen, the cast
includes well-known and popular performers Jaziel Vaugh’hann and Mpilo Nzimande
as well as newcomer, Philisiwe Ntintili. The set is highly colourful with the
imagery of flowering yellow plants and greenery. Good use has been made of the
small stage space, with recesses in between the curtains and a bench in front
of the stage at audience level.
The story is set in the kingdom of Solis Adultis.
Signs at the side of the stage point the direction from the N3 to the Palace of
the House of Briated, one pointing to ‘Toti and the other (crossed out!) to
Nkandla.
The show opens with a “Welcome to Burlesque” theme
before a sexily-dressed Ntintili as Fairy Miss Guided takes over to introduce
the audience to the storyline. The House of Briated is headed by the King and
his overbearing constantly-inebriated wife, the Queen (both roles taken by Thomie
Holtzhausen!) The Queen has decided it is time that their son, Prince Ample –
with strong reference to his physical (ie sexual) attributes – gets married. A
variety of hopefuls apply for the position (all played by Jaziel Vaugh’hann in
a variety of wigs and shoes) which is heart-breaking for Miss Guided who is in
love with the prince.
Holtzhausen is highly amusing in both his roles and he
even makes a brief appearance as his Indian granny character. The King – whose memory
is hopeless - is dressed in khaki shorts and shirt and the brim of his hat
bears the word “King” in sequins, in case we didn’t get who he was! The Queen staggers
drunkenly around, miraculously not breaking “her” leg as she falls off her
shoes. This is also the first time I have heard Holtzhausen sing a solo in an
adult panto as he brings much amusement to Carike Keuzenkamp’s ByeBeorwa.
Nzimande, whose height seriously challenges the rest
of the cast, makes an endearing Prince and handles a lot of knock-about comedy
as he tries to escape the advances of the applicants. As always, Vaugh’hann
gives his all to the sensual characters and handles numbers like Let Me Entertain You, Nobody Does It Like Me
and Somebody to Love with great
passion as was Proud Mary which he
sang with Ntintili.
Ntintili is definitely a performer to watch. She is
charming and exudes much energy and fervour to her role. She also has a strong
voice and I enjoyed her rendering of How
Will I Know? and Pata Pata.
This good ensemble piece offers loads of amusement
with good performances and some very funny and clever lines.
Twice Upon A Mattress will run until
January 12, 2019, with performances at 19h30 at onStage@Altitude. Tickets R150pp.
Tables seat 8 and there are only 10 tables in the venue. Bring along a picnic
basket and support the venue’s cash bar.
Club Altitude is situated in Silver Avenue, Stamford
Hill. Enter Silver Avenue off Umgeni Road (not far from the Umgeni/Argyle Road
intersection). There is parking in Silver Avenue and car guards are in
attendance.
For further information or to book as a group, contact
Thomie of ItsTaboo Production on 064 476 9533 or email:
bookings@clubaltitude.co.za Online bookings can be done on Quicket, www.quicket.co.za
– Caroline Smart
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