It’s panto time again
You know the festive season is upon us when the pantomime at the Mandela Theatre swings into action. For many families, attending the yearly fun-filled frolic has become a tradition – indeed it has in ours.
Johannesburg Theatre complex. Photo courtesy Tara Turkington
Audiences are in for a treat as they join celebrity stars in Janice Honeyman's Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates at the Joburg Theatre this silly season.
In a continuing period of economic recession, Joburg Theatre's CEO and executive producer of the annual panto, Bernard Jay, is delighted to announce that advance ticket sales of the 2010 panto had already reached a record-breaking 28 000 by the beginning of July. "It's tough to achieve advance ticket sales with the current shortage of leisure-rand spend," says Jay. "So it's even more exciting than usual to know that the brand of Janice Honeyman pantos leads the way and reassures us that this is the kind of entertainment the Joburg public craves for. And this year we certainly won't disappoint."
With thrilling sword fights, hilarious comedy, a shipwreck, a sea monster, flamboyant costumes and fabulous sets, Joburg audiences are in for a very special treat.
The show stars the loveably unique Marc Lottering as Crusoe's mother, Panto Dame Lolly Lottalove. Marc is one of the most popular panto stars in South Africa, having been acclaimed in 2004's Cinderella and 2005's Goldilocks and the Three Bears. He recently completed a season of his latest one-man show Naughty Forty, and just ended a run of Three Wiser Men alongside Nik Rabinowitz and Riaad Moosa.
Stunning South African beauty Tanya van Graan has been cast as Primrose Petal. Tanya is best known for her role as Roxy on the M-Net soap Binnelanders as well as her portrayal of Talen Aimes in the second season of the Afrikaans crime drama Snitch. She was voted the sexiest woman in the world by FHM South Africa in 2007 and Tanya was adored by millions as one of the celebrity dancers in the reality dance competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.
Heart-throb star of the stage and screen Carlo McFarlane leads the adventure as Janice Honeyman's own interpretation of Robinson Crusoe, Robin Lottalove. Carlo's own career break came as the lead character Shaun in the youth soap Backstage. He also featured in the television series Villa Rosa and played the role of Malcolm, a hotshot lawyer, in the popular television series Muvhango. Carlo recently won rave reviews playing the legendary lead role of Ren McCormack in Joburg Theatre's Footloose.
Favourite Isidingo actress Kim Engelbrecht has been cast as Robin's sister, Bobin Lottalove. Her role as Lolly van Onselen in the TV drama series has made Kim a household name with South African audiences. Kim made her screen debut in the 1994 feature film Sarahsara. Shortly after appearing in the film she landed a job as a child presenter for Craz-E. She was then headhunted by the SABC to host their educational show Take 5. Kim received plaudits for her portrayal of Storm in Real Theatre's production of Ben Elton's Popcorn in The Fringe at Joburg Theatre in 2007.
Real life married couple Louise Saint-Claire and Michael Richard provide more laughs (and the traditional ‘boos') as the Mayoress and the villain, Beelzebub. Award-winning actress Louise is currently seen on M-Net's All Access giving viewers the latest updates on the top films and theatre shows to watch, and is also known for her role as Allison Cilliers on the SABC3 series One Way. Michael is one of South Africa's leading stage actors in a career spanning 36 years, most recently seen at Joburg Theatre in the hit musical Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be.
The role of Flora the Fairy will be outrageously sent-up by musical theatre legend Judy Page. Judy has played some of the stages most memorable roles, from Dolly Levi to Roxie Hart. Sassy, occasionally brassy, yet still maintaining a sense of personal mystique, Judy will charm audiences with her magic wand.
And watch out for a heart-beating explosion of shipwreck pyrotechnics, the likes of which has never been seen before on a theatre stage in South Africa!
Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates will be on the stage of The Mandela at Joburg Theatre from November 3 2010 to January 2 2011. Booking is at Computicket: Call 083 915 8000 or visit www.computicket.com.