Brendan shines in Lefra’s production of Buddy
With an eclectic cast characters, and actors well suited to their roles, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story was destined to be a success when it opened at the Theatre of Marcellus last week.
Directed locally by Springsite Frans Swart, the show tells the story of a young musician breaking his way onto the American, and world, music scene with a new brand of music.
It follows him from a small town country singer, from Lubbock, Texas, to his success as a Rock n Roll icon up to his death in a plane crash at the age of 23.
With him in the plane were fellow musicians Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.
The show was written in 1989 by Alan Janes who says that he never dreamed it would run for as long as it has.
According to Janes, the show has been seen by 25 million people at 25 000 performances around the globe.
Of these at least 6 000 performances were on London’s West End.
“Back in 1989, if someone has told me that our show about Buddy Holly would go on to become a worldwide phenomenon that 29 years later would be going stronger than ever, winning numerous awards and accolade along the way, I’d have probably advised them to have an immediate check-up with the doctor!” Janes says.
Also read: Brendan to take the role of Buddy Holly in Lefra’s production of Buddy
“‘The Day the Music Died!’ – Don McLean termed that on the day Buddy Holly died in the tragic aeroplane crash in his song American Pie.
“When Buddy Holly passed away, no one could sense fully just what the fatal accident did to the development of music throughout the world.
“Buddy Holly was a genius, he was a poet, he was the father of Rock n Roll,” says Swart.
The show has a stellar cast led by Brendan Peyper in the role of Buddy.
Supporting him are Malcolm Gooding as Hipockets Duncan, Jaco Cilliers and Hugh Becker as The Crickets, Ayanda Sibisi as Miss Marlena Madison and Andile Magxaki as the MC at the Appollo Theatre.
Donae Brazer takes on the role of Buddy’s wife Maria-Elena.Each of the cast, some of whom took on multiple roles, played their parts to perfection presenting a well-polished show which is well worth attending.
“Brendan Peyper … you are Buddy! Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with all of us.
“The rest of the cast was superb, and I am very fond of each and every one of you,” says Swart of his cast.
The show opened last Thursday to a full house with many of those present adhering to the instructions of Hotpockets Duncan to “sing along and shout out, stand up, dance and clap hands, and express pleasure and joy” at every opportunity.
It was a lively show, played to a lively audience with at least one member of the front row getting a little more than she bargained for when the hip shaking Ritchie Valens (Mortimer Williams) made his way into the audience.
While Peyper gave a very strong performance, it must be said that when on stage Williams stole the show with his flamboyant persona.
The show runs until June 10 and should not be missed.
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