THE olde-worlde charm of the Green Lantern Inn’s cosy parlour was the perfect setting for Barbie Meyer’s supper theatre performance of a selection of works by home-grown literary genius, Herman Charles Bosman.
Welcoming glasses of jerepigo and peach brandy, dispensed by hostelers, South Coasters Bill and Gail Ross-Adams, warmed the innards while the outer chill was well taken care of by a blazing fire in the hearth.
Reminiscent of the famed ‘voorkamer’ which features so prominently in Bosman’s entertaining, often poignant tales of everyday life in the Groot Marico, the room was packed with visitors who converged on Van Reenen for an evening of good food and yet another stellar performance from Barbie.
And Barbie was, as usual, on top form.
She held her audience captive, carrying them with her on the journey from Oom Schalk’s close encounter with a leopard (would YOU stop to count the spots?) through the tale of the local musician with dreams of fame and fortune to the side-splitting account of the seemingly-endless singing of Psalm 119.
The comedy was balanced by Barbie’s touching recreation of Bosman’s outing from jail on work detail – his first taste of freedom after several years of incarceration.
The excerpt, taken from Bosman’s Cold Stone Jug, an account of his time spent in prison having been convicted of murdering his stepbrother in 1926, had her audience clearly walking every step along that dusty red road right alongside the convicted man.
In keeping with the truly South African theme, a hearty meal of lamb and boontjie soup and chicken pie with boere-style veggies was served, rounded off with a classic dessert of koeksusters, melktert and malva pudding.
Not only was the South Coast well represented at the show, visitors from Johannesburg and even the Free State had packed their khakis and veldskoene and made the trip.
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