(Madison Opland &
Hannah Brissett)
(This 16 member cast
of various ages and levels of performance pulled together as an enthusiastic
and well-controlled ensemble. Review by Caroline Smart)
Durban Actors Studio’s Stage School Programme, in
association with KickstArt Theatre Productions, has given 16 young performers,
aged 9-16, the opportunity to embark on a performance training journey like no
other.
This 16 member cast of various ages and levels of
performance pulled together as an enthusiastic and well-controlled ensemble to
present The Monster Mash. While they
may not all be musically talented, they deliver their roles with passion and
energy.
This is an original production by DAS written and
directed by Sanele “Sunny” Sibiya and it is a feather in the organisation’s cap
that the Westville Theatre Club asked for and bought the rights to do a
production with adult performers which will take place at the Club from December
12 to 15 and again from December 18 to 21.
(Right: Ryan Robertson &
Caohme Lalla)
The story offers a wild tale of monsters and ghouls
set in Vladimir’s Castle, the home of a malicious self-made creature who, during
the eve of The Monster Mash, is allowed to turn humans wandering in the words
into monsters.
Grace, a young woman who has been wandering in the
woods with her boyfriend Ben before they lost sight of each other, is pounced
upon by Vladimir’s evil Housekeeper and carried off to the castle to await a
devastating fate. Here she meets monsters Malachi, Freddy Frankenstein and
Desdemona who are also under Vladimir’s spell but sympathise with her in her
desperation to get out of the castle and find Ben.
The storyline has some fascinating twists and bends, some
highly amusing moments and much energy as the cast dance to popular numbers towards
an end where good eventually triumphs over evil.
The cast includes Hannah Brissett (Vladimir), Madison
Opland (Grace), Brandon Strydom (Ben); Savhannah Regnard (Housekeeper), Carl
Oosthuizen (Freddy Frankenstein); Caohme Lalla (Desdemona Wolf); Ryan Robertson
(Malachi Mummy); Amani Langa (Chucky),
There’s an evil bunch of Nightcrawlers played by
Stella Clarisse, Nsika Langa, Riley Weideman, Calene Lalla, Savhannah Regnard
and Cebo Kwayama. The three sisters Hocus, Pocus, and Phocus are played by
Joslyn Walters, Makayla Naicker and Tayo Haley. Calene Lalla takes the role of
Vladimir’s daughter.
The set is simple with black and white cobweb shapes
covering the back wall, two side panels of silver ribbon allowing for wing
space and portable book flats providing an image of different locations.
The Monster Mash has one
more performance tonight (December 7) at 19h00 at DAS, 114 Intersite Avenue,
Umgeni Business Park. For tickets contact 031 332 0173 or visit www.durbanactorsstudio.co.za/the-factory
- Caroline Smart
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