DURBAN actress and National Arts Festival Gold Ovation winner, Cara Roberts, will perform in a novel role as a dog in KickstArt’s comedy Sylvia.
The effervescent Cara, daughter of famous South African actor Ian Roberts, was born in Johannesburg, and mid-way through high school, moved to Grahamstown where she finished her schooling as a border. The vibrant actress has been performing on stage for seven years but has been a professional actor for 11 years.
Cara officially moved to Durban 18 months ago and has been involved in two Shakespeare productions, Hamlet and Othello, KickstArt’s Charlotte’s Web, Michael Broderick’s The King of Broken Things and The Place of Small Miracles. This will be her second KickstArt production in Durban.
Commenting on her role as dog, Sylvia, in the comedy, Cara said her role is complex in this funny and poignant play.
“I play a dog, I play a woman, and I play the ‘other’ woman. It is difficult to explain, best to observe, so I encourage people to watch it and maybe they can explain it to me?” she joked.
She said her response when she was asked to play the role of a dog in the show was one of excitement. “I laughed, but I was also filled with self-doubt,” she said.
To practice perfecting her canine roll, Cara said she did her homework by meeting up with actor, Peter Court’s dog, Scooby.
“Over and above hanging out with Scooby, Greg King, Peter and I have discussed the role at great lengths,” she said.
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On whether she has any pets at home to study for the role, she said she has a cat, Babushka, which has been in her life for 11 years.
“My partner, Bryan, and I have just acquired a new incontinent feline boss, named Bokkoms, and we have a cad cat who waltzes in when he feels like it. We are also foster parents to an old blind lady (cat) and another sweet lady (cat) who is very fond of food. I have inadvertently become the cat lady,” she laughed.
And now that she is playing a dog, Cara said she has responded to dogs differently.
“I have been a little bit afraid of dogs throughout my life, and assumed that people projected expressions and feelings onto them. But the canines of this world are so much more intelligent than I have ever given them credit for. I am now both cat lady and dog lover,” she said.
Following lockdown, Cara said it has been emotional being back on stage.
“It has been emotional but also extremely comforting and exciting, like coming home, but you don’t know if anyone will be there.”
Focusing on future shows, Cara said she would like to continue being creative and making meaningful theatre.
“I would also love to be able to sing without being afraid, and to continue learning, every day is a school day for me,” she said.
The show Sylvia will run from 23 October to 1 November at Seabrooke’s Theatre, Durban High School.
Enjoy the tale of Greg, who is on the brink of a mid-life crisis, but then finds, and falls head-over-heels in love with, stray mutt, Sylvia.
But Greg’s wife is not happy as Sylvia is no ordinary dog, and she’s about to chew a hole in a 20-year old marriage.
Cara is joined by Bryan Hiles and Liesl Coppin, who play husband and wife Greg and Kate, and Peter Court and Greg King, who share a surprise cameo appearance.
Shows are on Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2.30pm and Sundays at 11am and 3pm.
Tickets are R150 and booking is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000 or online.
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