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Over
The Rainbow Book, Music and Lyrics by David Fick and Jacqui Kowen. Lighting by Kobus Rossouw. Costumes by Illka Louw. Poster Design by Sarah Lambert. Photography by Kobus Rossouw. Directed by David Fick. Synopsis OVER THE RAINBOW is the story of Jude, a young man who has lost his path in life and, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, is whisked away to a faraway land where learns to appreciate the things he has left behind – including his faithful boyfriend, Ben. On the way he encounters some strange characters including a mysterious hobo, a drag queen with delusions of grandeur and a neurotic birdwatcher, as well as two witches who seem to see a lot more in Jude's future than he can ever imagine... Musical Numbers "The Best Years of Your Life", "Where Do I Go?", "The Journey", "Sparkle in Spite of the World", "The Man I'm Destined to Be", "Cassandra (She Left Them Cold and Alone)", "I Just Can't Break My Routine", "Last Dance", "Find the Rainbow", "The One I'll Always Carry In My Heart". Cast Candice van Litsenborgh (The Diva), Marc Williams (Jude), Ben Heyns (Ben/Tramp), Ryan Jales (Jack/Drag Queen), Anelisa Phewa (Charlie/Bird Watcher), Natanja Greeff (Paige/Locasta), Lakisha Bowen (Margaret/Singra), Naima Profit-McLean (Dr Morgan), Ndoni Khanyile (Jelia), Angel Campey (Rent Boy). Press CAPE ARGUS TONIGHT
– 26 November 2002 USING the same structure as the Wizard of Oz, this mini-musical emerges as a quite delighteful and significant piece, succeeding on a number of fronts. Collaborators David Fick and Jacqui Kowen form a fine team, and the production glides along effortlessly, intermingling several excellent numbers. In particular, Where Do I Go, by Marc Williams, sets fine pace. These are backed by pianist Sarah Lambert, whose sympathetic and unobtrusive presence adds further charms to the journey over the rainbow. As in the original Judy Garland screen classic, the story revolves around a youngster setting out on a mystical journey, through there most of the similarity ceases – except that the young man, Jude, does collect three eccentrics along the way. The production follows its own path; borrowing from the early Wizard is light. A pertinent aspect is the introduction of the splendid character of the Diva, who adopts the role of a sort of narrator. The part is taken by Candice van Litsenborgh, last seen to advantage in the glorious production of The Fantasticks earlier in the year. Here she again makes an impact with her presence, fine voice and performing talent. A promising future beckons her. Marc Williams is another who comes over strongly. He takes the part of Jude, the youth who is whisked away to discover that the journey is also a means to appreciate what he has left behind – in Jude’s case, specifically the loyalty and affection of his faithful friend, Ben. The latter role is well taken by Heyns, who gets the chance to demonstrate his versatility by reappearing soon after as the Tramp, one f the trio who accompany Jude on his journey. Ryan Jales, a scream as the neurotic drag queen, and Anelisa Phewa, a highly strung bird watcher, complete the group, all delivering commendable performances. I found the all-round level of acting impeccable. DIE BURGER – 26
November 2002 Gee Wizard of Oz so 'n byderwetse gay-klap en laat die res oor aan die talente van die Universiteit van Kaapstad se dramastudente. Wat kry jy? 'n Vars, oorspronklike en baie vermaaklike produk. Erg verras was dié resensent met sy vooropgestelde idees oor die musiekblyspel. Want daar is min fout te vind met dié hedendaagse weergawe van die ou sprokie. Dis die storie van Jude (Williams), 'n jong man wat homself moet vind en, soos Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, moet hy na 'n ver land reis waar hy opnuut die dinge wat hy agtergelaat het, leer waardeer. Dit sluit sy getroue geliefde, Ben (Heyns), in. Op pad ontmoet Jude 'n paar vreemde karakters, onder andere 'n geheimsinnige bergie (Heyns), 'n fopdosser met vreeslik baie eiewaan (Ryan Jales) en 'n neurotiese voëlkyker (Anelisa Phewa). Daar is noodwendig ook 'n Goeie Fee (Natanja Greeff) en 'n Slegte Fee (Lakisha Bowen) en, boweal, 'n verteller wat in die tradisie van die beste divas sensueel skitter om die gehoor met sjarme te oorrompel (Van Litsenborgh). En daar hang almal toe letterlik aan haar lippe... Jude is vreeslik selfsugtig. Met die hulp van sy medereisigers leer hy deernis vir ander en 'n paar lewenslesse oor sy ware identiteit. Elke karakter verteenwoordig dan ook 'n deel van Jude se psige, van die voëlkyker met sy streng roetinelewe tot die flambojante fopdosser met sy voete ver bo die aarde. Soos wat die storie sing-sing voltrek word, so word elke gebroke karakter weer heel. Jude weet nie waarheen nie, maar dan word die basiese vraag van die lewe sommer so uitgeblaker: Wat wil jy hê? En dit word só beantwoord, in drievoud: 'n Plek om te bly, 'n werk wat jy soveel geniet dat dit nie voel soos werk nie, en om huis toe te gaan na iemand vir wie jy omgee. Daar's 'n heerlike steek na twee wêreldbeskouings: die korporatiewe, mededingende een teenoor die vrygeestige, vrydenkende een. En albei blyk aanvaarbaar te wees, asook alles tussenin - solank dit is wat jý wil hê. Williams kwyt homself goed van sy taak. Sy stem is warm en suiwer, en sy toneelspel gemaklik en oortuigend. Heyns het aanvanklik nie oortuig nie, maar ná hy ook as bergie 'n heel ander karakter vertolk het, kon 'n mens sy veelsydigheid waardeer. Jales is uitgeknip 'n fopdosser. Met sy kostelike maniërismes het hy die gehoor oorrompel. Choreografies word die speelruimte van hoek tot kant benut sodat die spel opwindend en interessant bly.Lambert se klavierbegeleiding is onopvallend professioneel en met die sinchronisasie met die stemme was nie fout te vind nie. As 'n mens wil hare kloof, was Williams en Heyns se duet net-net onbevredigend omdat hul stemme nie genoeg geharmoniseer het nie. Die ander haakplek was die groepie mansvriende, wat soms net té los saamgesing het om indruk te maak. CAPE TIMES – 28
November 2002 This engaging mini-musical is the successful result of collaboration between two UCT honours students and a group of drama students and features the famous yellow-brick road and similar characters to those in The Wizard of Oz. It is a piece of youthful theatre, and a certain naivety in the writing and structure may not appeal to more jaded theatregoers, but the original lyrics, particularly the melodies, are fresh and appealing. The versatile Arena theatre also makes for a pleasant setting. There is an element of cabaret in the production. In the role of the Diva, Candice van Litsenborgh displays a fine voice and strong presence. As the evil witch Singra, Lakisha Bowen is suitably sinuous and sinister, in contrast t the gentle strength of Fairy Godmother, Locasta, a role well taken by Natanja Greeff. As Jude, the young man who has lost his path in life, Marc Williams captures the vulnerability of the role, and if Ben Heyns lacks confidence in the role of Ben, he comes into his own as The Tramp. Ndoni Khanyile stands out as one of the Boy Friends, and her perky characterisation of Singra’s maid is a delight, while Ryan Jales does credit to the Drag Queen who intends to travel on the road to fame, come what may. I loved the show; it does need some fine-tuning, but that was also the way The Fantastics originated and developed 40 years ago – so go see Over the Rainbow yourself, you never know! Picture Gallery
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