(Above: Lisa Bobbert,
Bryan Hiles & Lyle Buxton. Photo by Val Adamson)
Durban’s leading theatre production company, KickstArt Theatre, will be staging the South African première of Stephen Sondheim’s glorious ground-breaking musical, Company, which comes to the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre for two weeks only from April 9 until 21.
Never having been presented professionally in South Africa before, this witty, wise and worldly musical comedy which explores the quirks and contradictions of modern love, will be directed by Steven Stead, designed by Greg King, with musical direction by Roland Perold, choreography by Simone Mann, sound design by Stephanie Pais, and lighting by Tina le Roux.
Rebecca Ballenger describes Company on the StageAgent.com site: “On the night of his 39th birthday, Robert struggles to think of a wish to make as he blows out his birthday candles. The lone bachelor, surrounded by “those good and crazy people” -- his married friends -- Robert is uncertain whether he should simply be happy with his lot or whether he should wish for his own romantic partner. Over a series of dinner parties, first dates, and thoughtful conversations, Robert attempts to understand the pros and cons of marriage from his diverse and frequently hilarious friends and begins to make sense of his own persistent bachelorhood. Company, Stephen Sondheim’s ground-breaking modern musical, is a mature, intelligent, and wildly funny look at relationships, vulnerability, and “being alive.”
If you loved this team’s productions of two other Sondheim masterpieces, Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods, you cannot miss out on this funny, classy, very accessible musical. Apart from the unforgettable hit song, Being Alive, the score features many memorable numbers, including the iconic Ladies Who Lunch, and Marry Me a Little, I’m Not Getting Married Today, Barcelona, Side by Side, You Could Drive a Person Crazy, and Another Hundred People.
(Right: Bryan Hiles & Keryn Scott. Photo by Val Adamson)
The top-notch cast stars Bryan Hiles as the 39-year-old bachelor, Robert, who gets a great deal of relationship advice from his circle of married friends, which often conflicts with what he observes in their behaviour.
Multi-award-winning actress, Charon Williams-Ros, who will be remembered as a brilliant Mrs Lovett in KickstArt’s Sweeney Todd, as well as Mama Morton in Chicago and Frau Schneider in Cabaret, is returning from the UK for this production, as the abrasive and cynical Joanne. And much-loved actress, Jessica Sole (star of Camelot, Shrek, Into the Woods, Chicago) similarly returns from London to play the neurotic and marriage-averse Amy.
Others in the strong cast include Lyle Buxton, Peter Court, Anthony Downing, Roland Perold, Lisa Bobbert, Liesl Coppen, Anne-Marie Clulow and Yamikani Mahaka-Phiri. Robert’s three love interests are played by the glamorous trio of Roshanda Lewis, Keryn Scott, and Leah Mari, who has recently been getting rave reviews and standing ovations as Maria in The Sound of Music in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Performances are scheduled Tuesday to Saturday at 19h00, Saturday at 14h30, and Sunday at 16h00. Book for all KickstArt’s 2024 shows at WEBTICKETS. Visit www.kickstarttheatre.co.za for more details and to make bookings.
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