WESTVILLE Boys’ and Westville Girls’ High School have collaborated to present an evening of classic, French-style cabaret, titled Crazy Carousel.
The show is directed by Steven Stead, musical direction of Roland Perold, with choreography by Simone Mann.
“There is a common misconception about cabaret. Many people immediately associate the word with feather boas, fishnet stockings and high-kicking chorus girls. But cabaret, real cabaret, is far more sophisticated and also far simpler than this,” explained the director.
Stead said cabaret is an art form born in the bars and nightclubs of post First World War Europe, where artists could present experimental, challenging, sometimes subversive music and poetry, offering social comment, often full of deep and emotional resonance.
“It was often an incredibly pared down and intimate theatrical experience: a small, smoky room with a spotlight, a singer, a couple of musicians, and material that engaged the audience intellectually and emotionally. Sometimes wickedly funny, sometimes heart-wrenching. Always powerful.
“Jacques Brel, the celebrated 20th century Belgian songwriter and singer, provides the ideal material for an exercise of this kind.
“His songs are passionate short stories, intimate monologues that communicate a great depth of feeling and are ideally suited to the genre of true cabaret,” added Stead.
Songs include Amsterdam, Mathilde, Brussels, I Loved, Carousel and Marieke.
Crazy Carousel will be staged from Thursday, September 23 to Sunday, September 26 at the Roy Couzens Theatre at Westville Boys’ High School. Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s performances will start at 19:00 and Sunday’s performance will start at 18:00. Tickets are R120 per person and can be purchased at www.webtickets.co.za.
In line with Covid-19 regulations, tickets are limited to 50 people per show, with tables of two or tables of four available. Regrettably no single ticket bookings are available. Patrons are invited to bring their own drinks and glasses (no eats are permitted).
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