Actress at RedFest – every woman’s story of sacrifice
By the end of this production on July 26, audience members were on their feet ovating its brilliance.
Many humans are no strangers to wearing several hats in a day, often pushed into portraying multiple characters within the short space of a single lifetime.
Bruce Dennill’s play – Actress at this year’s RedFest – definitely explored the variety of roles played by women in a single life span – often requiring one sacrifice after the other.
A young South African woman (portrayed by Naledi-winning musical lead actress 2024, Talia Kodesh) tries to make her big break as an actress in the Big Apple, New York City. She’s wearing red, flashy heels as she tries to navigate her way to an audition. In America, the character deals with the loneliness of chasing a dream so far from home. Eventually, she and her husband, portrayed by Nathan Ro in his role as Random Props Guy, return home to South Africa.
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Ro’s character kept the space alive, supporting Kodesh’s stunning performance representing the hardships of pursuing an acting career to the ends of Broadways, and back home again.
The production presents audiences with a hyper-realistic perspective on the pursuit of the ‘American Dream’, rebuilding post-disappointment, and finding contentment in smaller, more meaningful accomplishments.
Directed by writer and singer-songwriter Bruce Dennill, Actress presented itself as a must-see play at this year’s RedFest. It’s recommendable to theatre lovers looking for a production that explores the variety of roles played by women in a single life span, often requiring one sacrifice after the other.
“It’s a relatable story about the roles we play in our lives. That’s why it’s called Actress, and why she doesn’t have a name,” said Dennill. “She’s a woman with all these roles: a daughter, a wife, a mother, and a teacher. Her passion is acting, but she had to give up some of that to be a mother, and give up some of being a mother to act, and give up something else to be a wife. It’s the same for men, who are sons and brothers and fathers, and all sorts of things.”
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Although not a stranger to the Redfest circuit, Dennill expressed what made this year’s festival at Redhill School all the more special for him.
“It’s interesting, because I think I’ve been here every year as an arts writer covering the arts through interviews and reviews. This is my first time on the other side of the coin, doing all the juggling behind the scenes.”
For two nights only, as a part of this year’s RedFest in Morningside, musical enthusiasts were treated to this insightful, gripping, original production. Actress has the makings of a popular theatre production capable of running for many years for the quality storytelling presented in this standing-ovation-inspiring earning play.
Actress was staged at Redfest on July 26 and 27. Dennill concluded with a word on where Actress has run, and where he sees the play going in the future.
“Before RedFest, we had a run at Pieter Toerien Theatre in Monte Casino last year, which was just very successful with the reception, and lots of people really connecting with it,” said Dennil. “It’s Actress’s first time this side. We are all friends of Daphne Kuhn at Theatre on the Square, and we would love to have it there, sometime. We’ll hopefully be getting this play into that theatre in the future.”
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