Kalk Bay Theatre | Megan's Head

Desperate for an answer

On December 7, 2011

In Cape Town, complaints dept, deeply personal, meg's moan in, theatre stuff

It’s no secret that I have been in a rage since I came back from London, and it’s all been about how SA theatre is a badly treated, abused, neglected, barely tolerated, under supported, hideous cripple in the room that needs charity in order for it to keep making its last gasping breath. I know you’ll think I’m exaggerating here, but I promise you, I am not.

My latest preoccupation and cause of my rage is how Rose Red has struggled for an audience during its run at the Kalk Bay Theatre. Now, I saw this beautiful gem of a show on opening night and raved about it. I was not the only one. From what I remember everybody, from blog to newspaper, had only great things to say about this show. The story is accessible, the performances are superb, the direction is fantastic, the marketing has been great. So I keep asking myself, what’s the problem? Why has it been so roundly snubbed by potential audiences?

And actually, I don’t want to ask this shit anymore, I just want to dish out blame. Am I wasting my time? Are we all just wasting our time, trying to make beautiful work for nobody? Why haven’t people gone to see this beautiful show? Why? Please tell me. Tell me why you haven’t gone.

Catch!

By megan

On October 13, 2011

In show reviews

I wrote a review of Shirley Kirchmann’s Catch when I saw it in Grahamstown. It was the superhero performance in the hell hole venue during a blackout where Shirley sang her own sound, performed her own voice overs and even spoke her lighting cues. And I loved it. This chick was hard core theatre through and through.

Last night it opened at The Kalk Bay Theatre so I took Big Friendly along. Unless it is my own work I hardly ever see a show twice. It’s not my thing. So, I confess, I did have mixed feelings about seeing it again, but I shouldn’t have. I was caught.

Catch is a one woman stand up/sketch show all about being single, and the trials, nightmares and agonies of breakups, dating and having to put yourself out there. And Shirley is totally on top of her game. I know she is not going to be everybody’s cup of tea, and those that are offended by filthy mouthed, aggressive women who talk a lot about sex; maybe think twice. For me though, that’s Shirley’s success; talking through all the chick stuff in a brilliantly observed way (my friend Candice was cackling in the row behind me as she identified), but with the style and charge of any testosterone filled stand up. There is something rop and hectic and totally hilarious about her.

With the bells and whistles of sound and light and voice overs, the show was slick and fast. I personally find the character stuff of the matchmaker a bit long and repetitive, but the rest flashes by at the speed of an oncoming orgasm. Shirley is a power performer with great comic timing and she killed it.

Blown away by Amber

By megan

On August 29, 2011

In Cape Town, deeply personal, inspiration, show reviews

Heather Mac organised a fund raising evening of performance for her daughter Amber who is going to Indonesia to study performance art. Last night friends, family and other people gathered at The Kalk Bay Theatre for this konseert that started with a beautiful Kung Fu demo-dance by Amber’s gorgeous brother Luke, then a great set by Chris Tokalon, then a couple of solos by Amber’s step-dad Mark, then a couple of solos by Amber’s dad Tim Parr, then a few songs with almost everybody and Heather, and Amber doing back-up vocals. I have seen her do back up and harmonies for Heather’s songs before and she is amazing.

Now it’s sometimes hard for me to picture Amber as a fully grown human because I met her when she was two and still in nappies. Over the years I have witnessed her grow; and have loved her as a most special and precious somebody. But last night, as I sat in the dark back row of the theatre with tears pouring down my face and onto my shirt, I discovered what an awesome talent this young person is. Last night was the unveiling of Amber Parr to me. She sang three of her own, original songs, and accompanied herself on piano and guitar. I was literally blown away. I had no idea what a brilliant songwriter she is. I had no idea what an exquisite, powerful and moving vocalist she is. I had no idea how completely mesmerising, natural and emotional she is as a performer.

Amber is beginning her own exciting journey in the world, and she is going into it with buckets full of unique talent. And love. Because everyone who saw her last night fell in love with her. She is amazing Amber. Go well little, little sister.

Body Language

By megan

On May 5, 2011

In Cape Town, show reviews

I was amongst much laughter last night at the opening of Body Language,Â GaÃ«tan Schmid’s new solo piece, at The Kalk Bay Theatre. I have to confess to being exhausted, but that didn’t stop me from giggling, chuckling, snorting and even guffawing at this crazy guy, his weird ideas and fabulous energy.

In this pieceÂ GaÃ«tan returns to his crazy professor person from Dog’s Bollocks to slip, slide, stumble, collapse, ramble and even sprint through the history, biology, sociology, anthropology, humorology of body language. It is informative, hilarious, rude, delightful, entertaining and completely silly, and I loved it.

GaÃ«tan is so charming he could be reading the telephone book. I love his quirks and foibles, funny Belgian accent, great physicality. I love that he calls it a lec-churn in stead of a lectern. I love that he puts an audible P in psychology. The content of the show is a jumble of truths, half-truths, made up stuff, and stuff we recognise about ourselves and others. It’s full of handshakes, facial expressions, funny walk and big balls.

GaÃ«tan standing with a perfectly visualised mimed square-handled queen’s handbag will live on in my funny memory forever.

Brilliant Shadow of Brel take #2

By megan

On November 18, 2010

In show reviews

Godfrey Johnson is doing a short two week run of his Brel show at the Kalk Bay Theatre and I went along last night even though I have seen it before and reviewed it here. In this venue the show is stronger, harder and somehow more intense, hardly giving the audience time or space to breathe. I think it has to do with the brilliant lighting that Jon Keevy made as well as the stillness of Godfrey in his chair for the whole thing. Brilliant. If You Go Away has never been done better and Next, The Lockman and some of the other lesser known songs are genius. I couldn’t stay for the second half, where Godfrey performs requests that members of the audience choose and pay for and the money goes to the Darling Trust (what a brilliant idea), I had a headache from hell that I couldn’t get rid of. The message to all who haven’t seen this show is, go. This is Brel with a capital B. And to those who have; it’s worth seeing again in this space. It’s not a laugh a second journey. It is intense, harrowing, sentimental, crazy, potent, poetic, demented and magnificent.

The Sitting Man, even better twice

By megan

On August 15, 2010

In show reviews

I very rarely see anyone else’s work other than my own more than once, but I really wanted to take my brother to see James Cairns’ The Sitting Man, and so Big Friendly and I took him last night. I was so happy that the Kalk Bay Theatre was almost full. It was great to see folk at the theatre on a Saturday night.

Seeing The Sitting Man again, ten days after the first time, was a treat. James was obviously much more relaxed than he had been on opening night. I picked up a few things he had added, and one or two that he had left out. I was also sitting in a different place, which gives a whole different sense. The show was as engaging, as rewarding and, in places, more funny and moving this time. My brother was transfixed. He sees a lot of theatre and is very perceptive and insightful. He also lives and loves in Jozi, so those Jhb characters were deeply resonant and accurate for him. He was propelled to his feet at the end, and spoke about how brilliant James was all the way home.

There is a week of The Sitting Man left and then James’s new show Dirt opens. I can’t wait.

Megan's Head

A place where Megan gets off her head.

Tag: Kalk Bay Theatre (Page 3 of 5)

Desperate for an answer

Catch!

Blown away by Amber

Body Language

Brilliant Shadow of Brel take #2

The Sitting Man, even better twice

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