How much do you know about the person next to you?

After recently opening for the Western Cape National School’s Festival at the Artscape Theatre, Below My Feet are performing only two shows in Cape Town before travelling to the National Arts Festival where they will be do a run before opening the National School’s Festival in Grahamstown at the Guy Butler Theatre.

“Below My Feet” is a collaboration of Movement (Contemporary, Modern Jazz, Tap, lyrical hip-hop), Music (for the head, heart and feet), Media (Stills and live footage in the form of a full short film).

This Multimedia/Live Performance piece asks the audience the question, "How much do you know about the person next to you?" By working across these different mediums, the aim of this piece is for each audience member to take something away with them. Whether it is a piece of choreography, a line of music or a image projected.

"Emotive and honest"
The Cue 

The 2012 Milly's Awards was held on 4 May 2013 at The Playhouse, celebrating Milnerton Players theatre talent. The evening ran very smoothly and, in keeping with the theme  SAY IT WITH FLOWERS, flowers were in abundance (albeit mostly artificial) on the foyer stage, on the tables, in hair, buttonholes, around necks and in patterns on various items of clothing.

The entertainment in the first half of the evening was very well received. It began with three numbers from My Fair Lady by Best Actress Award winner, Fiona Tanner, dressed first as Eliza Doolittle the flower seller for „Wouldn‟t it be Loverly‟ and then in evening gown for „I Could Have Danced All Night‟, with Shaun Klaasen, looking very elegant in white tie & tails singing „On the Street Where You Live".

This was followed by the short play THE FLORIST ably performed by Trevor Joubert, who was most convincing, with white beard and hair, as ninety-four year-old George Bernard Shaw, and nominee, Michelle Galloway, also looking somewhat older, as Eliza Doolittle, now Mrs Eynsford -Hill aged sixty–one. Everyone then enjoyed the tasty snacks at interval before moving into the theatre for the awards presentations hosted by our eloquent PRO, Beryl Eichenberger and Chairman, Richard Wade. 

Congratulations to all the very worthy winners and to all the nominees and everyone else involved with the plays, i.e. directors, actors, backstage and technical crews and front of house staff. Awards serve as an added incentive to excel in your particular area but it‟s good teamwork that makes a production a success. 

ABOUT THE PLAY   
The five characters in this play [two couples and a sister to one of the men] were all at University together as inseparable friends. On graduating they all went their separate ways, returning to their home town ten years later. We are told that Mark Marshall has now become a film-maker and has released a film, in which the storyline is based on the character of his old friend, Russell, in a very unflattering way. The friendships quickly unravel, and everybody’s lives are affected in one way or another.

This is a clever, moving, true to life play of ambition and revenge. It is a wonderful study of five professional men and women where self-seeking can hide beneath the most cultured surface and destroy those taken for granted values of friendship and trust.

THE CHARACTERS   

• RUSSELL McALLISTER -- 40 -- A professor of English, engaging in a leprechaunish sort of way.
  
• JILL McALLISTER -- 35-- His sister, warm, attractive, a good journalist, pleasant.
  
• WENDY McALLISTER -- 38 – RUSSEL’S wife, tall, beautiful, gentle, patient, but rather detached.
  
• MARK MARSHALL-- 41-- Good looking, intense, nervously energetic.
  
• SALLY MARSHALL -- 30 -- vivacious and exceptionally attractive, ambitious.

Nico Dreyer has been appointed as the Masque Theatre Manager. Nico has a Bachelor of Dramatics Honours Degree from the University of Stellenbosch and has worked for 10 years as the assistant to the Manager at the Promusica Theatre in Johannesburg. During his time with the Promusica Theatre he had extensive experience in the management of all aspects of a theatre, including being responsible for the establishment of the theatre's basement venue and tuition programme, and being the orchestra manager. He has also done management courses, a funding proposal writing course and is qualified in first aid and basic firefighting.

Nico will start work on 10 June 2013 and is looking forward to meeting the rest of the Theatre team.. He is very impressed with the theatre and all we are currently achieving and looks forward to being part of the team that takes the Theatre forward. 

The production runs from 11 – 19 October 2013 at the Masque Theatre, Muizenberg.
“The Wisdom of Eve” is a page turning play on which the famous multi-Oscar award-winning film “All About Eve” was based.

A famous actress unwittingly lets a younger female fan into her life. This is a page turning play about the machinations behind the scenes in theatre. All the roles are marvelous vehicles for actors of both genders. 

Ages range from 25 – 60 plus.

Enquiries: Debbie Beswick 082 859 3728 or email debrazoeb@gmail.com

THE CHARACTERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• Margo – a famous star 45 plus (Lead)
• Karen – Margo’s friend (an ex-actress) 45 plus (Lead)
• Eve – a theatre fan 25 – 35 (must be able to metamorphasise into a beautiful butterfly) – can be played by an older actress who is able to play younger convincingly. (Lead)
• Lloyd (Karen’s husband)– a playwright (40 – 50) Medium - large role
• Clement (Margo’s husband) – a producer (40 – 50) Medium role
• Harvey – Margo’s stage manager (30 – 50) Medium role
• Jack Marshall – an actor – almost Cameo role
• “Tally-Ho” Thompson (male or female) A gossip loving newspaper columnist (60 plus) Medium-ish role
• Vera – a very strong actress 25 – 35 – Small gem of a part
• Mrs Blake – Margot’s dresser 45 plus – Cameo role
  

Director’s Note:

• Strong performers are needed for this play.
  
• The director’s method is textual unpacking until cast is familiar with intonation, pauses, meaning, etc. 
  
• Thereafter blocking, cementing and characterisation are undertaken.
  

Celia promises an exciting journey into the world of the theatre.
“The Wisdom of Eve” will be set in present day.

On Sunday May 5 at 6pm, the Masque Theatre presents something completely different for music lovers who embrace all genres. Steve Draper is a personable and talented man who is a good musician and is capable of playing the guitar, organ, accordion, base, trumpet, and trombone – but relax!  He will not be playing all of these during this show.

Steve loves Gypsy and Eastern European music in general as this music has a passionate rhythm which is easily expressed on the guitar.  He loves the works of great cabaret performers and musicals so he has combined these genres to compose the music and become a real persona viz. “Klaza Kalish”!

“Klaza Kalish is Big Hearted!  He is the Eastern Bloc Bard!  He is Happy, Sad But Always Singing!”

His songs are from the heart and he and his songs are  interesting, entertaining and diverse.  Listen and sway, tap your feet, feel a tear, have a laugh or just drink in songs like  “Olden Days”, “The Carnival, “Comrade” and more. “Klaza Kalish” with his Russian gravelled voice, provides the show –“Songs my Uncle Teach Me”.