Yet another gem of a play directed by multi-award-winning director Nicholas Ellenbogen, Fergus of Galloway, showing at the Rosebank Theatre in Cape Town, is truly the epitome of raw theatre.
With four young and extremely energetic actors to take you back to the days of King Arthur (which may sound rather boring to some) the play turned out to be a treat. The script, originally written by Scottish playwright Alexander McCall-Smith, has been transformed from a purely poetic and endearing story of hope, into a fast-paced, upbeat and highly entertaining Ellenbogen masterpiece.
The intimate space of the Rosebank Theatre is transformed in to a shed belonging to an unknown man who is housing four aspiring actors. They put on a play to ensure that they can still reside at their current abode. The visual aesthetics, while not in the slightest fancy, are very appealing, such as the old rugs and quilted blankets that the characters use in their shed. Ellenbogen always proves that you don’t have to spend thousands on costumes or set pieces, that raw theatre is definitely more genuine and appealing.
The four-member cast makes the play extremely witty and exhilarating, and although it was only an hour of theatre, Daniel Richards, Jessica Munna, Sne Dladla and Jonathan Tait remained true to their characters throughout the performance. A good musical is not complete without some great talented musicians, and all four actors excelled in that department. Ranging from melodic harmonies to powerful solo pieces and even a few quirky lines, the music ensured that I had a smile plastered on my face from beginning to end.
It is important to recognise Tait’s impressive guitar-playing as well as Richards’s exceptional performance as the lead character, Fergus. Dladla’s humour and energetic demeanour also made the show a well-rounded piece of theatre and Munna added some female grace and charm.
While physicality and comedy play a big part in making this piece believable, the music, which was played solely by Tait, was the element which made me want to stay seated after the show ended.
This once small, black empty room known as the Rosebank Theatre was transformed into a medieval melodic fantasy which embodied raw and authentic theatrical techniques, making a night at this theatre a rich and memorable experience.
* For more information visit www.webtickets.co.za or call 074 101 5066.
The show runs from 28 May to 28 June.
This contribution was produced as part of a collaboration between LitNet and the University of Stellenbosch's Department of Journalism in 2014.