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Triple threats with nine lives
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October 20, 2009
 By Adrienne Sichel
So this is what South Africa's answer to Broadway gypsies looks like. It's Sunday, 4.45pm, and the cast of Cats prowls off a smoky stage (leaving a cheering audience) to have a break for just more than an hour before repeating the exhausting three-hour marathon.
Rushing off to have a break and take off their furry tails are versatile performers, young as they are, who are old-hands at this rigorous routine, only in different costumes and in different shows.
Think: Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Chicago - The Musical, Hair, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Footloose, Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, High School Musical, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, Aspects of Love, Thoroughly Modern Millie. The list just goes on.
With the exception of Joseph, and perhaps JC Superstar, none of these big shows could have been staged, with all-South African casts, if it had not been for that first Pieter Toerien production of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats in 2001.
Not only did the ensuing mini-boom of Broadway and West End shows build discerning audiences, but it nurtured a pool of skilled triple threats (actor-singer-dancers) who went on to tour, not only in South Africa, but in Europe , the Middle East, Asia, Scandinavia and New Zealand.
Where did these performers come from? Not all of them were trained at the Tshwane University of Technology's musical theatre department or the Waterfront School, in Cape Town, or in university drama departments.
There are also a number of now- experienced showbiz pros, from diverse backgrounds, who found their professional feet in Cats. Like Karabo Maithufi.
It is not unusual to chat to a cat (as one does), but having the feline talk back is downright eerie.
Wearing a dressing gown, but with his Skimbleshanks make-up and head piece intact, Maithufi talks about his love affair with musical theatre.
Surprisingly he has no designs on being a star.
"I just want to be on stage every night," he muses in the kingdom of the shared dressing-room.
But there must have been stardust in the bushveld air when he was born in Morolong village near Sun City 29 years ago.
Then his family moved to Mafikeng where as a 10-year-old he encountered the world of Latin American and ballroom dancing. A major inspiration was his cousin - Latin American and Ballroom champion Tebogo Kgobokae.
A Swedish exchange took the South African junior Latin champion to the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts and International Studies in Nevada. The high-school student who played violin and piano, and dabbled in drama, got to see productions of Starlight Express and Stomp as well as major touring modern dance companies that ran workshops .
His first taste of performing musical theatre, also in Vegas, was in a youth production of Fame, but dance remained his priority.
The jazz, Horton and Graham techniques that he specialised in were invaluable back in Mafikeng, where he joined the North West Arts Contemporary Dance Company, directed by Susan Abraham.
Two Sun City extravaganzas were followed by his professional musical theatre debut in the short-lived stadium version of Grease in 2000. Then Cats beckoned.
"I learned on the job," he recalls.
Even though he then toured with this production, as Pouncival the kitten, for three years, there are no comfort zones.
Choreographically Cats SA 2009 has had a serious fur and paw lift. The golden rule is: "Jo-Anne (Robinson, who adapted the direction and choreography) always says: 'Don't think of Cats as a dance show'. If you don't dramatise the movement you lose the audience and the story."
Being cast as Skimbleshanks the nimble Railway Cat, which he performs with endearing panache, was a big surprise. He confesses to being daunted by filling the distinguished shoes of song-and- dance man Darryl Evans from the original SA production.
Among Maithufi's musical theatre credits are Benjamin in Joseph, a Motormouth Kid, assistant dance captain and male cover in Hairspray and Cap in Soweto Story. As a contemporary dancer he has worked with Adele Blank, Christopher Kindo and Timothy le Roux (in Joseph).
His first big solo choreographic venture was the 2008 revue African Queens and he can't wait to make work for some of those "exquisite dancers" who are not seen on the contemporary dance stage.
Curiously there is no dream role he just has to do.
"I want to go on and on till I'm 50. I don't want to be a one-hit wonder."
Enough chat.
The clock's ticking. Miaoow! It's show time - again.
DANCE DIARY
Audition: (The Dance Space, 1 President St, Newtown, November 7 and 8 at 10am to 5pm). The Reunion Island-based Danses en l'R/Company's Eric Languet is looking for a female dancer for their fake skies to be staged at the 2010 FNB Dance Umbrella. Applicants must have a strong background in contemporary dance and/or dance theatre and be available during the last week of January 2010 to attend rehearsals in Reunion. This work, which explores the ambiguities between the prostitute and the dancer, requires performing in a small room in front of a single spectator. E-mail CVs to: assistante@danses-en-l-r.com
Romeo and Juliet (Dance Factory: tonight - low price preview - to Thursday, at 8pm). Catch this revival of 2008 Standard Bank Young Artist Award Dada Masilo's commission before it tours to Cape Town next week. Masilo stars opposite Songezo Mcilizeli's new Romeo. Other cast changes: Luyanda Sidiya (Capulet), Xolani Mthabela (Mercutio), Karabo Legoabe (Lady Capulet), Mpho Masilela (Friar Lawrence) and Victor Seteng (Benvolio).
partly god (Artscape Theatre, tomorrow to Sunday). Director Lara Foot Newton collaborates with Jazzart Dance Theatre choreographers Ina Wichterich, Ananda Fuchs, Sbonakaliso Ndaba, John Linden and Jackie Manyaapelo (under the direction of Alfred Hinkel) and composer/ performer Neo Muyanga.
Carmen (Vodadome Midrand: Thursday to Sunday). Joburg and a soccer team are the backdrop for Timothy le Roux's Carmen (not to be confused with Dada Masilo's Carmen), created for Mzansi Productions and staged in association with Vodacom.
Kaleidoscope (The Wits Theatre: tomorrow to Saturday). Moving into Dance Mophatong's repertoire season starts with a mixed bill, then two performances with poet Lebo Mashile in Threads (directed by Jerry Mofokeng) and a double-bill by Thabo Rapoo, the 2009 Standard Bank Young Artist for dance.
Romeo and Juliet (Baxter Theatre: October 27 to 31). Dada Masilo shakes up Shakespeare's tragedy in her edgy interpretation in this Dance Factory production.
Sentimientos (Artscape Theatre, October 28 to 30). La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre, directed by Carolyn Holden and costumed by Dicky Longhurst, unleashes flamenco choreography from Madrid and Cape Town, to live music.
The Nutcracker (Baxter Theatre: November 4 to 7. The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, and Johannesburg: November 26 to 29, December 1 to 6). Mzansi Productions revives its South African treatment of the ballet classic, using the Tchaikovsky score. The production is co-choreographed by Adele Blank and David Gouldie and designed by Andrew Botha.
Balletscapes (Artscape Opera House: November 11 to 22). Cape Town City Ballet celebrates 75 years of ballet in the Mother City. The programme includes the premiere of the collaborative African Landscapes, directed by artistic director Robin van Wyk, set to South African music, including Watershed and Goldfish, plus excerpts from popular Veronica Paeper, David Poole and Andre Prokovsky ballets. This celebration ends with a Sunday 7pm gala titled Happy Birthday Ballet and will feature stars from the past and present.
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