POIGNANT, funny and nostalgic are just some of the emotions that ran through me last night as I watched veteran theatre personality, Pieter Dirk Uys in his latest performance, The Echo of a Noise at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at UKZN’s Howard College campus.
I have to confess, I’m a huge fan and try not to miss any of his performances when he is in Durban, but last night’s solo act is probably the most memorable as he shared his personal history with such a profound sense of honesty that at times I was moved to tears.
From his childhood dreams of wanting to become a steam train driver to his stormy relationship with his Afrikaans father and his deep love for his German-born Jewish mother whose tragic suicide is told with such great sensitivity and love, the audience was captured for the full two-hour monologue. Not only does he share his treasured family memories, but also his quest to meet one of the great loves in his life, Italian actress Sophia Loren. He acknowledges with great affection the influence of Sannie – the coloured maid who worked for the family at their home in Pinelands in the Cape – had on his life and his work and shares the endearing tale of how she became not only part of the family, but a great friend.
Of course a night with Pieter Dirk Uys is not complete without some political commentary and his tales of the struggle with the then National Party Censor Board and the courage it took to stand up against the draconian laws of segregation are shared with wicked delight.
I discovered a lot about Pieter Dirk Uys in those two hours, I could happily have sat for another two hours for more from this entertaining storyteller and performer. Do yourselves a favour, get tickets to the show, you won’t be disappointed.
The show runs until 6 August at the Sneddon.
