SWEETIE DARLING FOR NAF

 

(Bongani Mbatha. Photos by Val Adamson)

 

A perfect feel-good festival piece!

Nine years after its debut performances around South Africa, Sweetie Darling, the run-away comedy hit by Clinton Marius starring Bongani Mbatha, makes a triumphant return to the National Arts Festival Fringe, re-directed by Ralph Lawson. The play can be seen in the Princess Alice Hall between June 30 and July 2, 2025.

 Sweetie Darling is a romantic comedy about a young man who goes all out to prove himself.  While he sets up a picnic in the park for his sweetheart, Jacob recounts the ups and downs of his journey to happiness. As he finds himself and love, he also finds his path to spiritual growth.

Appraising the production’s debut performance in January 2016 at Durban’s Musho! Festival - where it won the coveted Suliman Family Trust Award for Best Production, as well as a Judges’ Award - Gisele Turner wrote in her review for Going Places: ‘Performed with heart and soul by Bongani Mbatha, this tragicomic love story held the audience enthralled. The combination of Marius’s gift for telling an engaging story and Mbatha’s gift for sincere characterisation makes Sweetie Darling a winner… filled with ‘ah’ moments that have real emotional content.’

 "Creating a rival for the beloved’s favours is a master stroke by Marius," Turner wrote. "Back Pocket (and his Back Pocket) lead to much hilarity. Along with “sweetie darling” herself, a daunting lady who knows what she wants, the pastor/choir master, an outrageously camp hairdresser and a Chinese supermarket owner, Mbatha has the opportunity to fully explore his gift for entertaining characterisation. Sweetie Darling is a perfect feel-good festival piece!"

Those debut Mucho! Fest performances drew further praise from Jean van Elden, another Durban reviewer: "This proudly South African script is amusing and light, with some very touching moments. Together, Marius and Mbatha have created a charming and entertaining piece. I am sure this show goes further to enjoy a long festival life."  Prophetic words.

Sweetie Darling’s 2016 tour saw it wowing audiences around KwaZulu-Natal, at the NAF in Makhanda, and at the University of Witwatersrand’s 969 Festival in Johannesburg.

Fast-track to 2025. NAF performances of Sweetie Darling in the Princess Alice Hall will be on June 30 at 16h00, July 1 at 10h00 and 20h00, and on July 2 at 18h00. The duration of the show is 55 minutes, tickets at R80 per person can be booked through the Festival Call Centre on 0860 002 004.

 

Bongani Mbatha

A versatile performer, director and producer, Bongani Mbatha has done many stage plays together with film and television. He was playing Mr Dlamini in NIKIWE on ETV, and Qiniso in Sibongile and The Dlamini's on Mzansi Magic 163.

 

Currently, he is making waves as Malume Ali on Amalanga Awafani (SABC 1). Bongani has also appeared on Mzansi Magic series eHostela S1, Sawubona we Lova, Forbidden Love, eTV's Durban Gen and uZalo on SABC1 as Khumbulani. With his everlasting passion and contribution to the industry, he's produced and directed countless plays. These included, among others, Bigly Yuge, The Missing Hitman, Dusted Gold, All Gone and Abaphansi! (for which Bongani won an Ovation Award last year).