The Next 48hOURS ≈ Entertainment Guide Crutchley and Hyland challenge our Beatles catalogue gets thorough, apathy with deeply feeling piece no frills working through

SHOW: SACRED ELEPHANT SHOW: All You Need Is Love wave of Beatlemania by now. The fact DIRECTOR: Geoffrey Hyland DIRECTOR: Cedric Vandenschrik that I have seen so many tribute shows CAST: Jeremy Crutchley CAST: Cedric Vandenschrik, Chad Zerf, of The Beatles is evidence, if any was VENUE: Intimate Theatre at UCT’s Hid- Aldert Du Toit, Adam Coolsaet, Rob Nel, needed, of the continued relevance of dingh Campus on Orange Street in Tracy Johannes, Candice Skylark this most beloved of groups, but it has Gardens until February 18 VENUE: At the Roxy Revue Bar until also led to a bit of Beatles Tribute Show REVIEW: PETER TROMP March 17 Fatigue (BTSF, for short) on my part. REVIEW: PETER TROMP ‘All You Need Is Love’ is serviceable and ankind is so out of shape at workmanlike and even quite charming the moment that most of I must have seen close to a dozen Bea- at times, but there is an unmistakeable us can barely stomach the tles tribute shows in my time, all of them lack of a wow factor that is in tune with kinds of doomsday statis- highly diverse, both in terms of concep- the tepidness of anything Beatles-esque ticsM that are trotted out daily. tion and execution. There is no question these days. Any new evidence of the extent of that the Fab Four’s music remains popu- That being said, it is not too over- our pillaging of the earth’s resourcees, lar, but sometimes I wonder whether we whelming or overpowering so if you or the latest corruption outrage just have become so overexposed to it in the have grandparents who are fans of The seems to fade away in the media white modern era (the hugely hyped 2009 re- Beatles, or parents that have an over- noise machine. issues of the entire Beatles back cata- abundance of hair dye in their bath- Yet, I’m sure, artists maintain the logue and the simultaneous of room cupboards and who like their hope of somehow penetrating that de- the popular video game ‘Beatles Rock entertainment not to be too raucous, fensive fog of apathy that seems to be Band’ cemented their relevance in the this show should be right up their alley. a natural by-product of the bad news digital age) that the wow factor has It is quite relaxing and you will forget industry to reach a heart or two, so abated somewhat. about your problems for an hour or too. that they can influence the way people To many of us the first moment we I fear though that younger audiences feel and hopefully and ultimately act. truly paid attention to their music and will grow restless before too long and

The Guide In short, doing their job has become it resonated with us on a personal level might not be able to resist the tempta- more difficult than ever. In his touch- Jeremy Crutchley in ‘Sacred is one that will never be forgotten. Over- tion to reconnect with their social media ing portrayal of The Elephant, or at Elephant’ exposure, though, can water down the devices, probably while the show is on. least the conscience of an elephant, or specialness of almost anything. It is the I have always enjoyed Cedric Van- the guilt of man reflected through his a personal project close to his heart, reason why so much of today’s music denschrik on stage. He has an affable imagined wisdom of an animal who, and these can often turn into insuffer- has become more like background noise. demeanour, a real professionalism about unlike us, knows how to regulate itself, able vanity projects. Crutchley’s heart, (The music biz of course is aware of that him and he seems to enjoy his music. He Jeremy Crutchley might just succeed in however, seems to really be in it, and it and have duly amped up the loudness and his band perform the songs quite connecting with audiences on a funda- makes for a deeply touching theatrego- of music in general so it almost literally expertly at times; I just wish this show mental level. ing experience. becomes impossible to ignore.) had a little bit more pizzazz. The actor somehow manages to ex- There is no trace of the ironic dis- The tribute show “industry” has not ude both serenity and an almost cosmic tancing so common in most popular been immune to what must be the tenth * Book at Computicket. level of anger at humanity’s darker side, culture these days. His primary object something that must have led to quite appears to be connection. a degree of cognitive dissonance dur- This is not meaning to say that the ing the rehearsal process, I’d imagine. intended sincerity of the project makes But it all makes sense, because ‘Sacred it bland, colourless, despite the muted Elephant’ is less a “tribute” to the mag- gray pallet of the design. He is working nificence of the largest earth dwelling with Geoffrey Hyland after all, one of mammal (the play is inspired by the our most imaginative and wildly pas- poem by Heathcote Williams) than a sionate directors and the result is ut- Your guide to requiem for man’s lost moral compass. terly watchable. There are passages that the best of what From the moment he steps onto the perhaps go on for a little longer than is happening stage of the Intimate Theatre, Crutchley they should, but this is easy to forgive, in and around is utterly captivating, but not necessar- considering the breadth of the experi- ily in the way we have become accus- ence the artists impart on one. You Cape Town. tomed to of him in recent years. are unlikely to leave ‘Sacred Elephant’ To list your event, He is perhaps more endearing than I without having been touched. email: have seen him in a while, more vulner- [email protected] able, but at the same time a little more * Book on 0214807129 or by sending A scene from ‘All You Need is Love’ unhinged. It is obvious that this was an email to [email protected]. THEATRE THEATRE ART THEATRE THEATRE THEATRE THEATRE The Sacred Elephant 2 Ballets: Solitaire & Graduation ART in the FOREST, Cecilia Butlers & Bunny Chows R100 – R220 Suidoosterfees to a world of drugs and prosti- Multiple award-winning the- Ball Forest, Off Constantia Nek, Justin Wilkonson’s hilarious Artscape Theatre This annual arts festival is tution. atre artists Jeremy Crutchley Join the season’s fun with Tel: (021) 794 0284 new comedy, Butlers & Bunny packed with innovative stage Until 19 February and Geoffrey Hyland will col- Cape Town City Ballet danc- Chows. A thrilling tale of de- Menopause The Musical productions and offers enter- R95 laborate on a new production, ing Kenneth MacMillan’s Mark Dion & Context Exhibition ception, outrageous antics Kate Normington, Julie Hart- tainment for the entire family. Artscape Arena Sacred Elephant, an adapta- world-renowned Solitaire and by Fabian Saptouw and a generous helping of ley, Ntambo Rapatla & Shelly Until 19 February tion of the celebrated work by David Lichine’s quirky Gradu- Concurrent to his visit is Con- South African flavor. Adriaazen Artscape ’n Plekkie In Die Son poet Heathcote Williams. ation Ball under the sultry text- a show curated by Mi- 22 – 25 February @ 8:15pm Until 25 February This production is unique mu- Until 18 February summer sky. chaelis lecturer Fabian Sap- R49 - R75 Theatre On The Bay, 1a Link Baby sical theatre with well-known Intimate Theatre on Hiddingh Until 21 February touw. The work on the Artscape Theatre Road, Camps Bay, Acclaimed Afrikaans author artists who combine story- Campus, 57 Orange Street, R110 – R130 show investigates the book Tel: (021) 438 3301 and playwright EKM Dido’s telling and song with hilarious Gardens, Tel: (021) 480 7129 Maynardville Open-Air The- and its text as an artwork. Wes Coast / Eden Drama Festi- work picks up the story when comedy, hip hop rhythms and atre, Tel: (021) 650 4673 15 February – 7 March val The Cape Consort Live Sergeant de Wit arrives with dance to portray the past and Shirley Valentyn Michaelis Galleries, Universi- Offering young artists the op- The Cape Consort, a group of two guests in tow – Uncle At- present Mitchells Plain. Until 18 February TheatreSports ty of Cape Town, 31 – 37 Or- portunity to display their talent solo singers and 2 basso con- tie, a magician, and his Until 17 February R70 – R100 Every Tuesday (From 24 Jan- ange Street, Cape Town, Tel: on stage. Its aim is to develop tinuo players - is fast estab- daughter, Baby, whose car R60 Baxter Theatre, Tel: (021) 680 uary) (021) 480 7170 community performances lishing itself as the leading broke down next to the main Artscape Theatre 7880 Kalk Bay Theatre groups that share local stories Early Music Ensemble in road. What does Uncle Attie The Raging Storm with audiences. South Africa in terms of both really do and who is Baby? Howzit my Bra The Comedy of Errors ART , Led Zeppelin, 16 & 19 February introducing exciting new rep- Until 19 February Talented comedian, Shimmy The Bard meets Bruce Lee in Muse, Nigel Kennedy, Peter R30 ertoire to South African audi- R90 Isaacs, brings ”Howzit my The Comedy of Errors. Two Smitten by Theo Paul Vorster Gabriel, The Cranberries, Artscape Arena ences as well as performing Artscape Bra” humour to the festival. sets of twins, separated at Art in the Forest presents Black Sabbath, Audioslave, exclusively on period instru- Combined with several othr birth, unwittingly find them- Theo Paul Vorster’s ‘Smitten’. The Mars Volta, Anthrax, Viva la Mamma ments. The Consort‘s artistic Dit Voel Leeg issues, also looks at breast selves in the same city, un- Inspired by the month of love, Catherine Wheel, Alan Par- This delightful Donizetti comic approach is aligned with the Dinah Cupido is an intelligent, cancer and gives a voice to leashing a series of uproari- this exhibition combines lin- sons, , Steve Miller, opera with demanding divas, international Historically In- ambitious girl from Rehoboth those who have survived the ous misunderstandings, in ocuts by famed artist Theo Disco Biscuit, Biffy Clyro and egos the size of table Moun- formed Performance Pratice just outside Windhoek. dreaded disease. this most farcical and youthful Paul Vorster and ceramics by others. tain, vibratos big enough for a Early Music movement. Greener pastures attracted Until 19 February of Shakespeare’s comedies. Art in the Forest resident artist 20 February – 10 March bus to drive through and inse- 19 & 26 February her to Cape Town. Coinciden- R75 Until 18 February Madoda Fani showing sym- R40 curities both financial and R100 – R120 tally her romantic dreams Artscape Arena R60 – R150 bolic meanings of love, say- 6 Spin Street, opposite other. Fugard Studio, make her a victim of a Nigeri- Maynardville Open-Air The- ings and quotes. Church Square, Cape Town Until 19 February Tel: (021) 461 4554 an boyfriend who exposes her atre, Tel: (021) 461 3746 18 February – 31 March Central, Tel: (021) 461 0666

4 The Next 48hOURS www.48hours.co.za 17 February - 23 February 2012