Courtesy of the Phantom of the Opera Programme 2012 (Pieter Toerien Monte Casino)

A few weeks ago a guest staying at Liz at Lancaster & who is a musical-aholic, told me he had seen ‘Phantom of the Opera’ SEVENTEEN times – in NY, London and now the night before at Monte Casino, his 2nd time in SA. And he thought it was the best performance he had ever seen. I had never seen Phantom so on his recommendation and with high expectations, I went with a friend (also a Phantom novice). We were completely bowled over. Apart from that wonderful music, the stage sets and costumes were just amazing, but most gut wrenching of all was Johnathan Roxmouth’s rendition of the Phantom. Just an extraordinary performance. Really don’t miss it if you can help it. It’s been extended until 3rd June.

As the accompanying press release says: ‘One of only two Jewish boys to have been born in a stable, Nik Rabinowitz always wanted to be an accountant.’   I always love hi sweekly slot on 702 – The week that was, which is achingly funny with nobody being spared Nik’s biting satire. So am really looking forward to Stand and Deliver where ’Nik, a Xhosa-speaking Jew, explores the reasons that have led coloured people to believe that he is coloured, why Afrikaners have settled in Israel, and how a grown man can end up saying things like, ‘daddy make hot for sossy’. ’  Showing at Monte Casino.

Dates: From 29 Feb to 11 March ONLY!   Times: Wed to Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 5pm & 8pm, Sun @ 3pm
Price: R150 & R100 BOOK BY PHONE:  Computicket (011) 340 8000 OR  Theatre Box Office: (011) 511 181 OR book on-line at Computicket

Tickets R120, R150, R180, R230

Andrew Lyndsay of the Spaza Gallery is hosting a fab Valentine’s event.    Starting at 4 pm at 19 Wilhelmina St Troyeville there is a Valentine’s exhibition followed by a show by Venus Mercedes. Book via email emp@intekon.co.za or on 082 494 3275/ 082 957 0052. Cost R150 per head.

Another re-run is Somewhere on the Border which runs until 12th Feb at the Main Theatre at the Market.  Exactly 25 years after the play first performed in Grahamstown, André Odendaal’s production opened at the 2011 National Arts Festival. Leon van Nierop concluded his review on Artslink saying “the play performs an open heart surgery on the South African psyche. It is timely, finely acted and forcefully directed. See it at all costs.”
Tues – Sat @ 20h00, Sun @ 15h00
Ticket prices: Tues – R66, Wed & Thurs – R95, Fri & Sat – R160, Sun – R120
Special: 11h00 performances @ R50 only from 10 – 13 January 2012

Following its success at three South African Arts Festivals and a tour of Holland, US playwright Dael Orlandersmith’s love story, Yellowman, is back at the Laager Theatre. Yellowman is a contemporary tragedy with the parts played by David Johnson as Eugene (Gene) and Mwenya Kabwe who won Fleur Du Cap for Best Actress for her role as Alma. Ticket prices: Tues – R66, Wed & Thurs – R90, Fri & Sat – R140, Sun – R100

There are two musicals showing at the Joburg Theatre. If ABBA is your thing then The ABBA Show is for you! – Showing until 5th Feb.     I heard P-J Powers being interviewed on her role as Dusty in You don’t have to say you love me; The Dusty Springfield Show.  Sounds like a fun production. On until the 12th February.  

At Pieter Toerien Monte Casino Main Theatre, Agatha Christie’s classic Whodunit is on until 26 Feb and the long-awaited production of  Broadway’s longest running musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera opens at Teatro Monte Casino on 31st January.

Straight from sold out seasons in Cape Town, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival and the Hilton Festival Gaetan Schmid’s comedy Body Language is showing the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square until 4th February.

Four blocks from Liz at Lancaster is the well-known Video Spot in the The Colony, 345 Jan Smuts Avenue  Tel: 011 447 1401 .   Their selection of movies is amazing – from the latest releases to golden oldies, British crime and detective series and arthouse movies.  Customers come from all over Joburg to the Video Spot as the selection is so wide and varied. For a write up on The Video Spot see   ttp://www.jhblive.com/reviews/shops/the_ultimate_video_spot/86466 

The Market Theatre’s write up summarizes the play:  

Death of a Colonialist tells the story of Harold Smith, an aging, eccentric, unpredictable but extremely passionate history teacher at a high school in Grahamstown. His passion is South African history, most specifically the history of the amaXhosa. Harold is at the end of his powers and his increasingly erratic teaching techniques are making the school’s hierarchy look for some new blood in the history department. He is aware of the moves against him but believes his passionate teaching will always win the day.

What Harold is not aware of is that his wife has terminal cancer and has decided not to tell him. His two children, who have moved overseas, decide to come home for an unconventional family reunion. Some hard truths await Harold, who is so wrapped up in his own life and his passion for history that he is unaware of the personal tragedy unfolding in his own life. Dealing with questions of identity, history and terminal illness, this is a funny, sad, profound and passionate play that weaves between the tragedy of our past and the challenges of our present. Ultimately, Latter’s play reinforces what it means to be South African.

The Girl in the Yellow Dress, written by Craig Higginsons and directed by Malcolm Purkey,  is another excellent production which is returning for a re-run at the Market.  I missed it last time around so am going to make sure I see it this time before it comes off on the 18th December.  The Market Theatre’s synopsis : ‘Originally inspired by Ovid’s story Echo and Narcissus and psychoanalytic writings on narcissism, The Girl in the Yellow Dress is set in contemporary Paris and deals with the exchanges between Celia, a beautiful English teacher in her late twenties, and Pierre, her younger French-Congolese pupil.  

Brimming with humour, rage and longing, this internationally celebrated South African play provides a minute exploration of an increasingly hazardous romantic entanglement and an insight into some of the tensions between the ‘first’ and ‘third’ worlds.