The Next 48hOURS ≈ What’s Hot ‘Ouroboros’ is a vividly realised More stars announced for Cape Town leg of WWE tour

puppet show for adults The new line up for the WWE event taking place on Wednesday July 6 SHOW: OUROBOROS and Thursday July 7 at the Grand DIRECTOR: JANNI YOUNGE WITH BASIL Arena at GranWest Casino has just JONES AND ADRIAN KOHLER been announced. Fans can look for- CAST: JASON POTGIETER, CINDY MKA- ward to seeing the likes of superstars ZA, GABRIEL MARCHAND, TALI CERVATI, Alberto Del Rio, and special BEREN BELKNAP AND CHUMA SOPO- guest referee Bret Hart live on these TELA dates. VENUE: THE BAXTER THEATRE UNTIL Other WWE Superstars that will JUNE 11 travel to Cape Town include “The REVIEW: PETER TROMP Viper” , “Captain Charis- ma” Christian, the “Big Red Monster” believe it is a fallacy that adults , the “Celtic Warrior” , outgrow the love of fairy tales. Corre member and Cape Town native The enchanting tales told to us as well as the “World’s when were children were so in- Strongest Man” Mark Henry and The Idelible, so fi lled with the fantastic Great Khali. A scene from ‘Ouroboros’ stuff of cruelty, malice and retribu- Alberto Del Rio came to WWE tion that they can haunt one even in from the Mexican elite. A Superstar adulthood, especially when one be- young cast of puppeteers have man- ments the emotion depicted on of tremendous society stature and Alberto Del Rio comes fully ensconced in the rather aged to do. Young’s collaboration stage so perfectly that ‘Ouroboros’ culture, he has been linked to the bland, workaday world. with Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler almost effortlessly achieves what bloodline of Spanish royalty Ferdi- seven feet of girth and might; 22 That’s why I wasn’t surprised to of the Handspring Puppet Company must have been Young’s intention nand and Isabella. EEEEE shoe size; 22 1/2 ring size and see the mostly white haired audience has obviously paid dividends with from the start: to make people feel Everything about him, from his a 64-inch chest. Big Show made his I attended ‘Ouroboros’ with respond this production. something specifi cally personal. education to his sense of honour and in-ring debut in WCW where he left a to Standard Bank Young Artist ‘Ouroboros’ tells the story of the In the Q&A session that followed his very appearance exudes an image massive impression as The Giant, and award winner Janni Younge’s fairy ups and downs in the relationship the performance and that Young of carefully-calculated majesty. captured the WCW Championship on tale for adults with as much glee as between an author and a dancer hosted along with the performers, With pure aristocratic arrogance, two occasions, along with the WCW they did - and this was on a Tuesday and does so by complementing the she revealed that the show was in- Del Rio chose to make his WWE de- Tag Team Titles. evening, a cold Tuesday evening, puppetry with animations that are spired by the deep feelings she ex- but in the summer of 2010 by inter- The Giant had an immediate im- when enthusiasm for anything is at projected on a screen behind the perienced after she had given birth rupting and insulting pact in WCW, focusing his attention a weekly premium. performers. to her fi rst child. on ‘SmackDown’. on some of the biggest icons in the ‘Ouroboros’ is far from perfect. It It is less of a plot than an emo- I sometimes feel that too many of Later that night, Del Rio stunned industry, from Hulk Hogan to the plods when it should take off, it is a tional landscape that gets depicted the stories that appear on our local the WWE Universe by making the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. shade too long, and certain patches and the seamlessness with which the stages are of the rather safe, “things two-time World Champion tap out in Justin Gabriel from Cape Town that are supposed to be zippy ap- puppetry and the animation dovetail that happen to other people” variety his fi rst WWE match. fi rst competed in WWE NXT season pear slightly too in love with them- results in quite the rich tapestry, one and not enough about the subjec- Reminiscent of Andre the Giant and 1 after which he brought his rebel- selves to just segue seamlessly into that is very absorbing. tive experiences and feelings of the Big John Studd before him, Big Show lious nature to groups like The Nexus the next scene. As wonderful as ‘Ouroboros’ is to creators themselves. is a feared competitor who can intim- and The Corre. This is where he fi rst But none of that really matters look at most of the time, it is even How refreshing it is to have ex- idate an opponent with his size and introduced the WWE Universe to his because the production is so vividly better to listen to. Whatever they actly such a show and one that is stare alone. The pound-for-pound lethal 450 Splash. realised. It takes some skill to make a paid Neo Muyanga to score ‘Ouro- executed so expertly. World’s Largest Athlete’s measure- bunch of puppets feel like real char- boros’, it wasn’t nearly enough. His Don’t miss ‘Ouroboros’. ments are astounding: 441 pounds; * Book at Computicket. acters with human dimensions, but provocative and (simply) brilliant that is exactly what Young and her score is so engrossing and comple- * Book at Computicket. Help these young dancers Choral tribute in honour of Madiba at Artscape go to the USA

styles - is going to be magnifi cent.” the near future. For this reason this Songs will span the decades and visit will include some of the great defi ne South Africa’s tumultuous yet cities of the world – Washington, triumphant journey and include ‘Am- New York, Orlando, Florida, and to athwasa’ which, set in the turbulent attend classes in various dance styles 90s, provides percussive/explosive with respected teachers. sounds as backup to soprano and With a group of selected candi- tenor soloists and a four voice chorus dates they set about raising the funds that bring to life the times while ‘Say- for this undertaking. Each learner ibamba’, composed during the de- had to reach a target of R30 000 cade that ushered in Madiba’s release over a two-year period. About 90% The Pro Canto Choir and 1994’s fi rst democratic elections, of the Dance Project’s candidates embraces a rhythmic vibrancy. come from historically disadvantaged ‘A Choral Tribute to Madiba’ on backgrounds and none of them The special concert ‘A Choral Tribute tra on June 18 (7.30pm) and on June also forms part of the Umbiyozo have immediate access to this kind To Madiba’, celebrating the South 19 (3pm) with the Abavuki Marimba Youth Festival, which takes place at of money. Candidates and parents African struggle and the life of for- and Jazz Band. Artscape until June 19. held functions, activities and turned mer South African President Nelson On both days the choirs will also to friends and contacts for sponsor- Mandela, will take place at Artscape perform as a massed choir for some * Book at Computicket or Artscape ship support. Eventually a group of on June 18 and 19, featuring the of the songs, including S.B.P. Mnomi- Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695. 16 learners managed to make them- Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, a ya’s celebratory song ‘Rainbow Na- selves eligible by raising around 80% marimba orchestra and fi ve of Cape tion’, while the stories behind the of the required total over the two- Town’s top choirs. songs will be narrated by Madiba’s The Dance Project in action year period. Produced by Ali Mpofu of renowned praise poet, Zolani Mkiva. In total, 18 individuals are travel- Ukhamba productions in association “Songs chosen are all from our ling in the group. Two being adult with Artscape theatre, conducted South African song-book, taking the The Dance Project is a non-profi t leaders responsible for all the ar- by Lungile Jacobs with music direc- legacy of Madiba into consideration organization that got afforded the rangements and ensuring the young- tion by Charles Banjatwa, the ‘Choral along with all the milestones of his 10 lucky readers can win double opportunity to attend an overseas sters do not get lost, waylaid or side- Tribute To Madiba’ will also create a life and times - from struggle to free- tickets to ‘A Choral Tribute To dance conference, taking place in Or- lined throughout the experience. All unique fusion of the Cape Philhar- dom, peace and the creation of the Madiba’. To win, you have to be a lando later this month. have worked hard to qualify but in monic Orchestra’s classical orchestral Rainbow Nation. The tribute also cel- subscriber of The Next 48hOURS. The aim of the tour is to expand the end the total required (in round on one day and a marimba and jazz ebrates a 35 year milestone of youth Send your name and “Madiba” in these youngsters and expose them to fi gures) stands at R540 000. The orchestra on the other, along with expression,” says Mpofu. the subject line in an e-mail to: the levels, skills, training and diversity group has raised a total of R515 000 some of the city’s award-winning “Madiba is one of our heroes but [email protected] before 12pm of Dance, Arts and Performance in this far, leaving it with a shortfall of choirs. The choirs - Joyful Harmo- nothing has ever been presented on on Monday June 13. If you are NOT other great cities around the world. R25 000. nies, Simon Estes, Heavenly Voices, stage in the form of choral music a subscriber, send an email to The intention is to achieve as much CPUT and Pro Canto – will perform and I think the blend of cultures - [email protected], then as possible on this one journey as * If you are able to assist, call Trish on with the Cape Philharmonic Orches- in terms of song and different music you may enter...Good luck! none can afford to fl y out again in 021 705 6202 or 083 357 4037.

4 The Next 48hOURS www.48hours.co.za 10 June - 16 June 2011