Arts writer
ORPHEUS in Africa, The Fugard Theatre production of David Kramer’s musical, now returns to the venue from September 22. The show’s limited world premiere season was sold out earlier this year.
“It‘s always exciting for us to present musical theatre,” says Daniel Galloway Executive Director of The Fugard Theatre. “But to be able to nurture and produce a new South African work is the most rewarding challenge of all.
“Unlike other shows that have been tried and tested on stages overseas, an original work like Orpheus in Africa had no predictable outcome. So we were especially thrilled at the overwhelming critical and box office response to it’s first ‘try-out, work-in-progress’ season in February. For those who weren‘t able to get a ticket we offer an opportunity to see a work that David Kramer has ‘fine-tuned‘ for the return season.”
The production is based on the little known story of Orpheus McAdoo and the Virginia Jubilee Singers’ tour of Queen Victoria’s colonies in the last decade of the 19th century. McAdoo was a free born son of a slave and a graduate from The Hampton Institute in Virginia.
He was the first black American impresario to perform in the British colony of South Africa, where he and his group achieved unprecedented success.
At the same time the musical charts the evolution of black American music – from spirituals (Jubilee songs) to jazz, and also includes original material by Kramer.
Virtually the whole original company will return to reprise their characters – Aubrey Poo ( Muvhango, Scandal, The Wild, Rent, Dreamgirls) will again lead the production, as Orpheus McAdoo, alongside Lynelle Kenned ( West Side Story, Blood Brothers, Showboat), who also returns to the production, as Orpheus’s fiancé, Mattie Allen.
Also returning will be Jill Levenberg ( Blood Brothers, Nancy), Jessica Sole ( Beauty and the Beast, Annie), Dean Balie ( Kat and the Kings, Blood Brothers), Sne Dladla ( The Joke’s On You), Sanda Shandu (presenter Search on 3), Bianca Flanders ( Blood Brothers, Dig), Edith Plaatjies ( Slick Swing, Blood Brothers), Graham Bourne ( Showboat), and Katlego Moncho ( Waiting for the Rain).
Kramer and the Fugard Theatre are also delighted to announce that Carlo Daniels ( Kat and the Kings, Blood Brothers), Robin Pieters ( Vocal Mania, Kaapse Musiek in Colour 2), and Jarrad Ricketts ( Boy Band Mania, The Standards) will join the company for this run.
Orpheus in Africa opens on September 22 and is currently booking until October 31.
The production offers the opportunity to step into the Victorian era and experience the singing style of the Virginia Jubilee Concert Company as they recreate classics such as Roll Jordan Roll, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Hush and Deliver Daniel.
The creative team includes set designer Saul Radomsky ( Kat and the Kings, The Shadow of the Hummingbird, Bad Jews), costume designer Birrie le Roux ( Cabaret, West Side Story) music director and arranger Charl-Johan Lingenfelder ( West Side Story, Cabaret, The Rocky Horror Show) and lighting designers Daniel Galloway and Benjamin du Plessis ( The Rocky Horror Show).
l Special e arly-bird tickets to the first six preview shows, R130. Thereafter, tickets: R110 to R220, 021 461 4554, or www.computicket.com For block bookings, school groups, or charities: Lamees Albertus, 021 461 4554.