Remembering Ronnie’s Funniest Moments

A TRIBUTE to Durban’s legendary playwright, Ronnie Govender, will be staged at Sibaya Casino’s iZulu Theatre from 16 to 19 April. The tribute will be presented and performed by stage and TV personality, Jailoshini Naidoo, and is called ‘Funniest Moments’.

Govender received two lifetime achievements awards in his career and was declared a Living Legend by the KZN’s Premier’s office. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate from DUT.

His most memorable plays include SA’s longest-running play, ‘The Lahnee’s Pleasure’, as well as ‘At The Edge’, ‘1949’, ‘Off-Side!’, ‘In-Side!’, ‘Beyond Calvary’ and ‘Swami’.

In honour of the recent 80th birthday of this giant of the theatre, award-winning Durban actress, Jailoshini Naidoo, has put together ‘Funniest Moments’, an entertaining pastiche of memorable excerpts from Ronnie Govender’s plays. This theatrical treat promises to be a roller-coaster ride of superb entertainment. The much-loved star will be supported by two other luminaries of the stage: singer/muso Ramesh Hassen, and well-known actor, Henry Ramkissoon (of ‘The Dingalings’ fame).

“Last year Ronnie Govender turned 80. The thought that went through my mind was that this was a milestone in the brilliant career of a writer and director who has been widely honoured over the years. The unswerving, often lone struggle by this stalwart to establish non-racial theatre, and his eventual list of outstanding productions, is well known. However, while the country aptly celebrated the 80th birthday of another luminary, Athol Fugard, we neglected to do so with our own multi award-winning playwright. This is what motivated me, with Govender’s permission, to put this production together,” said Naidoo.

Having worked under Ronnie Govender often, Naidoo said she was well acquainted with his work. “While it was a labour of love, I must confess that selecting excerpts from all these wonderful plays for ‘Funniest Moments’ was a nightmare – simply because I had a hard time deciding what to leave out.”

The production promises a wealth of hilarious and moving moments, selected from over 16 plays written and directed by Govender over a span of 35 years. Performances of ‘Funniest Moments’ are at 8pm on Thursday, 16 April and Friday, 17 April; at 8.30pm on Saturday, 18 April; and at 3pm and 6pm on Sunday, 19 April. Tickets at R120, available from Computicket outlets at Shoprite Checkers.