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Tuesday, July 2, 2024

THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES: REVIEW

 

 


 (Above: Lyle Buxton, Roland Perold & Marion Loudon. Pic by Val Adamson)

The KickstArt team of Steven Stead and Greg King never cease to amaze me. Stephen’s director/acting talents and Greg’s design capacities never fail to create a production that is of top quality.

The latest The Emperor’s New Clothes, the South African première of this family musical, is no different. It is important to remember that this is a “musical”, not a “pantomime” so youngsters should not expect the normal nonsense that makes up pantomimes.

This afternoon’s performance at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN campus was hugely enjoyed by the near-capacity audience mainly made up of youngsters from the age of 5 to their caring mums, dads or grandparents.

The musical is a version of the famous Hans Christian Anderson fairytale by Broadway stalwarts Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. It’s about a young man who has become an Emperor but has not the slightest idea how he is going to handle the new responsibility. A beautiful and touching performance by Daniel Anderson.

Providing the drama – and splendidly so – is Roland Perold as The Swindler. He is also the Musical Director of the show. Sadly, we will lose him in September when he goes to the US having been accepted into The University of California.

Another top-notch performance comes from Mthokozisi Zulu as Arno, the scrub boy.

Durban theatre favourites Marion Loudon and Lyle Buxton provide much of the humour as the Head of the Imperial Wardrobe and the Emperor’s Chief Advisor.

Rounding off this excellent cast list are the young ladies who play the villagers - Keryn Scott, Amahle Tembe and Roshanda Lewis.

The costumes are splendid and the lighting and sound as excellent as you would expect from a KickstArt production.

So, get moving and book your tickets as there are only a few performances left until the show closes on July 7. Performances are at 14h30 and last 65 minutes.

Book for all KickstArt’s 2024 shows at WEBTICKETS.

Visit www.kickstarttheatre.co.za for more details and to make bookings.

To see the press release visit http://news.artsmart.co.za/2024/05/the-emperors-new-clothes.html - Caroline Smart