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
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