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Thursday, May 30, 2019

VASLAV


(Godfrey Johnson)

In a brilliant performance that is mind-blowing in its high energy level, Godfrey Johnson leads us into the history and troubled mind of Vaslav Nijinsky, legendary and revolutionary ballet dancer of the Imperial Russian Ballet. Don’t miss it! (Review by Caroline Smart)

“We have gone right outside of the comfort zone,” says Roland Stansell, who runs Rhumbelow Theatre, explaining its new objective of offering audiences something different to the usual music review shows.

The theatre has acquired platforms which can be placed in front of the stage and allows for a more intimate connection between performer and audience.

This provides a perfect performance space for Godfrey Johnson in his award-winning one-man show, Vaslav. Every move, whether large or small, nuance of expression, whisper or slight gesture cannot be missed. Johnson has them all – and uses them to full effect.

In a brilliant performance that is mind-blowing in its high energy level, he leads us into the history and troubled mind of Vaslav Nijinsky, legendary and revolutionary ballet dancer of the Imperial Russian Ballet. The stage is littered with red folders – he would only use red ones - and these represent the diaries Nijinsky kept over the six weeks of his treatment in a mental asylum after he was diagnosed as being schizophrenic.

Johnson demonstrates his command of piano playing, performing works by Stravinsky, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Satie and his own compositions – the works either being played smoothly or in frenetic muddled-up jerkiness, reflecting the state of Nijinsky’s mind or mood and his desperation at being incarcerated.

Johnson also reminds us of his considerable acting versatility in creating different characters. Often the dialogue has to be presented at incredible speed so all kudos to his breath control as he swoops from subject to subject and quotation to quotation. The most effective image was created by his standing close to the lamp on the aged and out-of-tune (deliberately) piano, offering a kind of close-up television image of the characters he was conveying.

We see Nijinsky at various stages of his career, the main being his hunched, stuttering, juddering phase locked in a cell. One of the characters is his expansive brother Stanislav who adds to the Nijinsky’s history from his point of view.

Vaslav is superbly directed by Lara Bye and the text is written by Johnson and Bye with writer Karen Jeynes. Tina le Roux has created some excellent lighting for the Rhumbelow season. Don’t miss it!

There are only two more performances of Vaslav at Rhumbelow Theatre on May 31 at 20h00 and on June 2 at 14h00. The running time is 65 minutes. The venue opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.

Tickets R150 (R130 pensioners, students with a valid student card and tables of eight or more). Take along food picnic baskets. Braais will be available. There is limited secure parking and booking is essential. A cash bar is available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises). Rhumbelow Durban is situated at 42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road in Umbilo.

Booking is through Computicket or contact Roland on 082 499 8636, email roland@stansell.za.net (also for group booking discounts of 20 or more) or visit http://events.durbantheatre.com – Caroline Smart