(Shortly
after this scene, Gino Fabbri and Ian von Memerty were carefully ushering 200
audience members to safety in the dressing rooms of the theatre)
On Friday evening (February 8, 2019),
approximately 200 striking students held an audience of 200 patrons hostage in
the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at UKZN campus during a performance of Ian von
Memerty and Gino Fabbri’s comedy / music show, Common and Class.
The students wanted total campus shutdown
and objected to the continued operation of campus-based Elizabeth Sneddon
Theatre.
The students, pounding on the glass doors
of the foyer and chanting, demanded that the show stop immediately to avoid
anyone being harmed. Halfway through the show the theatre management stopped
the performance and kept the audience in the theatre where they waited for
approximately 20 minutes.
“We could hear the students outside getting
increasingly more vocal and rowdier, so we led the entire audience (including a
paraplegic in a wheelchair) downstairs into the safety of the dressing rooms.
We put all the lights out in the theatre and for the next two hours, we quietly
waited for security and police to deal with the situation. Thankfully, we had a
pro-active policeman in the audience who managed to liaise with what seemed to
be a communication spaghetti - and eventually the students were dispersed, and
we could lead the audience out,” explained von Memerty.
“The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre staff were
magnificent, and the audience was calm, understanding and supportive.
Fortunately, no-one was hurt and no property was damaged during the incident,” he
added.
The incident took place at the point in the
show when they were performing Sweet
Transvestite from The Rocky Horror Picture Show – with Von
Memerty in full drag, fish nets and heels as Frank n Furter and Gino in blond
wig and tails as his side kick, Riff Raff – having to lead the audience to
safety. “You couldn’t script it better!” says von Memerty!
The show, Common and Class, was scheduled to perform at the Elizabeth Sneddon
Theatre until February 17. Following this incident, performances have been
cancelled at the Sneddon because the safety of their patrons and their property
can no longer be guaranteed.
“The show must go on!” In true showbiz
style and not wanting to disappoint fans, the tenacious performers have
creatively made a plan to ensure that the Durban run continues with as little
disruption as possible. Venue mangers hearing of the situation have offered
their spaces in order to accommodate the show, and the Sneddon have offered the
production a return date in April.
A block-booking of pensioners was made for
Sunday February 10 15h00 show, so rather than disappoint the patrons, von
Memerty and Fabbri are going to the old age home to entertain the residents for
the afternoon in their home, and at 18h00 will do a pop-up performance at Kloof
Harvest Church.
New
performance dates are:
Wednesday & Thursday February 13 and 14
Kloof Harvest Church at 19h30
No performance on Friday
Saturday February 16 at 16h00 and 20h00
Roy Couzens Theatre, Westville Boys High
Sunday February 17 at 15h00
Hilton Theatre, Hilton College
Return season at Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre:
April 3, 5, 6, at 19h30; April 4 at 19h30 and
April 7 at 15h00.
For all queries, tickets and exchanges,
contact Wendy on 082 661 6921.
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