TONIGHTSTAGE

TUESDAY MAY 27 2014

Sharing himself one song at a time

LATOYA NEWMAN

TS NOT often high-end

entertainers opt to bring their
shows to Durban, but Jonathan
Roxmouth is one artist who
never leaves the city off his tour
list.
His latest production,
which begins its season at the
Rhumbelow Theatre on June 11,
will see Roxmouth in a very
different type of act.
A celebration of musicals, Stage
by Stage sees the performer take to
the stage alone with nothing but a
microphone and his favourite songs
from the musicals.
Tonight caught up with
Roxmouth to find out more about
his love affair with Durban which
started in high school and his
new show, which he describes as
a concert of songs from the
musicals.
He began explaining how Stage
by Stage came about: I do these
musicals all the time and after
every show, invariably there is
someone who will say well why
dont you bring a CD out?
So when I did Sunset Boulevard
last year I decided, well why not?
I had some spare time to do it and
while we were rehearsing during
the day, I was in the recording
studio at night.
And I just thought, it will be
something to sell after the show; it
will be something small, but at least
when Im an old man one day Ill
have something to show that this
is what I used to do.
But, as Roxmouth explains,
what started as a small project has
snowballed into a full-on show: It
really took off and people started to
say they wanted to see it live. So I
did a few performances in Margate,
Centurion and Boksburg.
These were all people who had
come to me. I didnt go out looking
for it, they all just offered (for him
to do the show) I realised it was
such a nice thing to see people
coming to what is essentially
a concert.

Its not a show. Its a concert

of songs from the musicals. And
especially in 2014, to see young
people getting excited about
Rodgers and Hammerstein and
Andrew Lloyd Webber and others,
is, for a professional in the business
like me, its exciting seeing the
audiences still interested in that
sort of music.
Its not just about Lady Gaga
and Adam Lambert and, dare I say,
The Jonas Brothers any more so
its very exciting from that point of
view.
Roxmouth said he saw Stage
by Stage as more than a show. Its
me on stage. Its an evening of the
musicals with Jonathan Roxmouth.
I tell funny stories that have
happened to me in shows, stories
about the songs themselves
and its a completely different to
anything Ive done because its me,
Im not taking on a character.
And I think an audience really
likes that sort of reality to it and a
personal touch behind things.
The hardest thing about putting
together his running order had
been choosing the songs.
I thought, what songs should
I sing? And I split them into three
groups: songs I have sung before in
shows, songs I am singing currently
in shows and songs I would love to
sing one day that is essentially the
dream roles section.
And hopefully the audience gets
to know me a little more during the
show, he said.
Commenting on his passion
for Durban, Roxmouth explained
where it all began.
Durban is very special to me
and its where I really first started
doing musicals. In my Northcliff
High School days I did five musicals
at The Playhouse Guys and Dolls,
Oklahoma!, The Mikado, Me and
My Girl and The Pirates of
Penzance.
I treated the Northcliff High
School tours down to Durban as
my performing arts education
because you went on stage and did
the show and then you went home,

TUESDAY MAY 27 2014

LATOYA NEWMAN

DURBAN FAN AND FAVOURITE: Entertainer Jonathan Roxmouth brings his new show (or rather concert of songs),
Stage by Stage, to KwaZulu-Natal next month.
PICTURE: THE FAMOUS FROUWS
as a professional, but you were still
in school.
I suppose, in a way, Durban has
the blame for the reason Im in
musical theatre.
I got to know Durban audiences
well during these tours. Also, on an
artistic level, theres no snootiness.
There are no pre-conceived judgements from people who think their
opinions matter. There are no
critics trying to prove a point and
air their agendas.
Nothing kills a show in its
infancy quicker than being judged.

Stunning sounds from

France, Spain and Brazil
MICHAEL
GREEN
regular pre-concert lecture and
illustrated some cello effects
achieved on the guitar, as well as
passages inspired by the rain forests
of Brazil.
The performance itself was
highly successful. The work is
scored for a small orchestra, about
35 players, so as not to drown out
the solo guitar, but even then it is
necessary for the soloist to use an
amplifier. The lengthy solo cadenza
was particularly impressive.
The encore provided one of the
high points of the entire concert.
James Grace played the haunting
Memories of the Alhambra, written
120 years ago by the Spanish
guitarist Francisco Tarrega. It
is difficult and unforgettable, the

Mighty wise move for Karou Charou

And Durban is far more gracious

than any of the other hubs.
Roxmouth added that Stage by
Stage would also see him joined by
an accompanist for the first time.
Lots of people have been saying
they hope its not all back tracks.
Whats interesting is when I do a
piano show like Liberace, people say,
Oh, I wish he sang more; and when
I do a vocal show people say Oh, I
wish he played more.
What sets Stage by Stage apart
is this time there is no trick. Its not
like Topsy Turvy where there are 14

costume changes in one song. Its

not like Liberace where its just
piano all the way and blistering
fingers.
Stage by Stage is a wonderful
laid-back show that is all about the
musicals.
Catch Stage by Stage from
June 11 to 22 at Rhumbelow
Theatre, Durban. All tickets
through Computicket, except
for Aliwal Theatre: book
with Barbara at 039 973 1105
or 083 778 1469.

DURBANS infamous Karou Charou

is to launch his new one-man show,
Maha Dhir, in KwaZulu-Natal next
week.
Karou remains an enigma to his
audiences, as hes opted to stay
hidden behind his traditional
Eastern outfits, headgear, dark
glasses and bling.
Tonight caught up with the
turbaned one to find out more
about his new show, which
apparently will also include
magic and hypnosis.
He explained that, Sanskrit
in origin, Maha means power
or mighty, while Dhir refers
to being wise, adding that
powerful, mighty and wise
are certainly words that describe
the turbaned one.
I try to reinvent myself and
come up with something new every
year. Coming up with new stuff is a
challenge, but I stick to my tried and
tested format.
I play to predominantly Indian
audiences, and I try to play to what
they know and love, and what has
made them identify with me.
My show involves a lot of
audience interaction. In my last
show I did some mental telepathy
tricks, so the audience can expect
to have something in that range.
In the past six months, Ive
been working on my hypnosis, so
hopefully by the time I get on stage
Ill have it down to a fine art. So
anybody looking to cure some nasty
habits like smoking, nail-biting, and
so on, Ive been told a bit of hypnosis
can help. Its going to be therapeutic
and funny at the same time.
Karous debut show, Kama Sutra,
was a sell-out. His next one-man
show, Dont Dalla Wid Da Masala,
enjoyed an equally successful run.
We asked Karou to what he

theme picked out against a ceaseless

tremolo (rapidly repeated notes).
We moved to France with
Maurice Ravels Mother Goose
Suite, written originally as
childrens piano pieces, and later
expanded to a ballet suite with
enchanting orchestration. Arjan
Tiens expressive conducting style
was seen and heard to particularly
good effect here.
Finally, Ravels most celebrated
work, Bolero, was given the full
treatment by the whole orchestra
about 70 players.
This hypnotic and extraordinary
composition, written in 1928, has
always been controversial. Some
find it dull and repetitious, but
there is no denying its compelling
power. Its a long, slow, 15-minute
crescendo, starting with a murmur
from the drums, and ending with a
massive blast from all the instruments. It was brilliantly played by
the KZNPO and brought the house
down. Artsmart.co.za

SOMETHING OF AN ENIGMA: The infamous and razor-tongued Karou Charou is back with a side-splitting new one-man show.
credited the popularity of his shows.
When I first went on stage, I
wanted to try my hand at doing
comedy. So I wore a disguise and
went on stage with the idea being
that if I flopped no one would know.
So I went on stage and, strangely
enough, the disguise worked. People
didnt recognise who I was. But the
character became an enigma who

piqued peoples curiosity.

Also, the disguise allows the
audience to be a bit more free and
open when they interact with me,
because they dont know who they
are talking to.
Karou said audiences could
expect Maha Dhir to be like a
Bollywood movie, only shorter
and without subtitles. Its not

recommended for sensitive viewers

with no pulse.
Rated PG18, Maha Dhir
opens on June 6 and 7 at Sibaya
Casino. Tickets R100 at the Spar
pharmacy (Northway Mall), R120
at Computicket. June 13 at Aryan
Hall (PMB). Tickets R100 at the
Spar pharmacy (Northway Mall),

PICTURE: SUPPLIED

R120 at Computicket. June 15

at Durban City Hall. Tickets
R100 (early bird special) at
Computicket, with limited
buy two, get one free special.
June 28 at Richards Bay Casino.
Tickets at the casino. July 4 in
Umzinto, July 18 in Port Shepstone, August 2 in Ladysmith.
See Computicket.

Coming home to Durban for a laugh

LATOYA NEWMAN

MUSIC from France, Spain and

Brazil made an attractive and
unusual programme for the second
Durban City Hall concert of the
KZN Philharmonic Orchestras
winter season.
The conductor was the Hollander
Arjan Tien, much admired here
after 16 years of visiting Durban,
and the soloist was the highly
accomplished Cape Town guitarist
James Grace (pictured).
The evening opened with the
well-known Ritual Fire Dance
by Manuel de Falla (1876-1946),
the most famous of all Spanish
composers. This work is, I think,
most often heard in its piano
version, but the original orchestral
score is highly effective, and the
KZNPO made the most of its strong,
fierce rhythms.
The guitar concerto by Heitor
Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) breathes
the atmosphere of the composers
native Brazil. Earlier, James Grace
had joined Liezl-Maret Jacobs at the

TONIGHTSTAGE

POPULAR comedian Simmi Areff

is one of those Durban exports
whove flown the flag high when it
comes to making audiences laugh.
Since leaving the city for greener
pastures in Joburg, his career has
snowballed, with the funnyman
opening for comedians like Riaad
Moosa.
Among other achievements he
has appeared on the Comedy Central
channel and earned a reputation as
one of comedys heirs in waiting.
His debut solo show, Strictly
Makrooh, rocked the boat in some
circles in Joburg, where it played to
sold-out audiences.
Tonight spoke to Areff to find
out more about what he would be
bringing to Durban stages since last
performing here last year.
He said moving to Joburg was
the best thing he could have done for
his career.
Comedy-wise Durban is a small
place It depends on who you are,
but for me it was the best decision
to go.
Other guys thrive in Durban,
like Jem (Atkins), Glen (Bo), Carvin
(Goldstone), they all stay in Durban
and are really successful because
they are so close to the community.
Theres a lot more happening in
Joburg as well in terms of places to
perform you can perform almost

every night.
Last year, Areff was threatened
with legal action by the South
African National Halaal Authority
for using a parody of the organisations logo during the promotion of
Strictly Makrooh. We asked if Areff
felt there were any major issues
with Muslim comedy in South
Africa.
There are always issues with
Muslim comedy The thing is, if
I come to your house and offend
you, then its my problem. But if
you come to my house, if you paid
money to come to a comedy show,
then why are you offended?
Asked what it was about comedy
that drew him to it, he said: Money,
drugs, fame and b**s in that
order, he laughed. No seriously, I
just like telling jokes. I didnt know
about this thing you could do where
you just stand up and tell jokes. It
was cool The next thing, there
were more people who liked hearing
my jokes and I started getting bigger
responses. I like hearing laughter.
Its such a cool feeling to make
people you dont know laugh.
What I always tell people is
that I just want to be in a theatre,
and I consider all the people who
like my comedy, my friends. So I
want my friends to come and I want
to perform for them. And, to be
honest, I want to perform for free,
but you know you have bills to

pay, so
Asked what the audience could
expect of him with Make Salaam
and Laugh, he said: Im going to
bring my good looks. (He laughs.)
I always tell people Im a looksbased comedian But Im just
going to have fun and tell jokes.
Areff is touring with Strictly
Makrooh, which he hopes to bring
to Durban later this year.
Im planning to tour the show
for a while I may do a name
change, it just depends. But I want
to try to bring it to Durban before
the end of the year and then
probably take it to the smaller
towns like Rustenburg, Petersburg,
Nelspruit because they love
Muslim comedy.
For now, Durban audiences can
enjoy him in Make Salaam and
Laugh, in which he performs with
Masood Boomgaard. According to a
press release, the duo are expected
to look at the funny side of being
Muslim in South Africa, while
delving into everyday issues like
the economy, crime, elections, sport
and married life.
Make Salaam and Laugh is at
the Coastlands Hotel, Musgrave,
on Friday. Tickets: R100. A
dinner-show combo for R250
includes a buffet dinner before
the show. Book at Shoprite
or Computicket.

Durban comedian
Simmi Areff, now
working in Joburg,
returns home for Make
Salaam and Laugh.
PICTURE: SUPPLIED