South Africa’s ‘Queen of Panto’, Janice Honeyman, once again casts her magical spell over the festive season with a Cape Town Opera production of her Christmas musical, Starbrite. It opens at the Baxter Concert Hall on December 3, with performances daily at 14h30 and 18h00 through to December 13.
Written by Honeyman and co-directed with CTO’s Christine Crouse, it’s about the birth of Jesus - but with a local spin - and promises to be a highly entertaining holiday show for the whole family.
Predominantly in English, with parts in a kind of “rural” Afrikaans, the musical follows the story of Mary, who hails from Khayelitsha. It’s full of local colour, characters and songs, with the Cape Town Opera company giving the hymns and carols their usual rousing treatment.
The show which lasts about 50 minutes, opens with the singers making their way through the audience to the sound of ‘Make We Merry’. They don wire and tinsel halos and transform into a choir of angels, headed by Archangel Gabriel, who breaks the news to Mary that she’s a mother to be. Elton Landrew stars in the role of Archangel Gabriel.
Joseph, an old Bo-Kaap carpenter - performed by Quinten Booysen - is less than pleased to hear he’s about to become a father by divine intervention. A heated domestic row ensues, but the couple are eventually reconciled, and they set off for Bethlehem on a karretjie pulled by a tired old donkey.
In addition to the hymns and carols, the story is interspersed with some lively numbers like ‘Jabulani’ and the popular ‘Umqomboti’. These get into the action when Joseph and Mary gatecrash a jol in the slums of Bethlehem, where the local shebeen queen gives them the use of a backyard stall, which they share with assorted livestock. The animals are crafted from wire, beads and coloured plastic, and manipulated as puppets by members of the cast.
Familiar advent characters are introduced, including the shepherds with names like Jaap, Swaap and Dwaas, and the Three Wise Men, who follow the bright star that sparkles on the end of a bamboo rod! Only the jealous King Herod, who wants to kill the new baby, introduces a discordant note. But all ends happily with a medley of celebratory carols including "For Unto Us A Son Is Born", "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" and the beautiful African lullaby "Thula Thula".
As Gabriel wishes everyone a happy, peaceful Christmas, and the Cape Town Opera company brings the show to a close with the Swedish carol, ‘Merry Christmas", streamers and confetti are thrown, coloured lights flash and the bright star gleams, while baby Jesus miraculously sleeps throughout! -- www.capetownopera.co.za
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