THEATRE Johannesburg listings October 3 to 9, 2003 Compiled by Matthew Krouse from the Mail & Guardian. Listings for inclusion in this guide can be mailed to artlist@mg.co.za. Plays marked with a star are recommended. Click on the Computicket icons to book online. ACTORS CENTRE Civic Theatre complex, Braamfontein. This resource for performers runs classes throughout the week for new and working thespians. The cost of classes ranges from R35 to no charge and include items such as Tobie Cronje on meditation and Lynne Marie on public speaking. Tel: 877 6843. AFRICAN FOOTPRINT. Globe Theatre, Gold Reef City Casino. Richard Loring’s celebrated African Footprint returns until February next year. It’s an evening devoted to traditional and urban moves in a show that has enthralled princes and presidents. Book at Computicket. Tel: 248 5168. BEYOND WORDS AND THE BIG RED LOLLIPOP. Wits Theatre, Jorissen Street, Braamfontein. From October 9 to 18 dancer-choreographer Athena Mazarakis presents Beyond Words and the Big Red Lollipop. This piece of speculative fiction deals with “story smugglers who are operating in a time of a story ban”. Tel: 717 1376. COMEDY UNDERGROUND. Cool Runnings, Melville. Comedy Underground makes for a good night of drinking and guffaws. The line-up includes some of the best funny people around. The show starts at 8pm and there are student discounts. More information: Tel: 646 4861. DINNER AND A SHOW WITH SHIRLEY AND MRS H. Spaza Gallery, 19 Wilhelmina Street, Troyeville. Dinner and a Show with Shirley and Mrs H is a work of satire by Robert Colman and Toni Morkel. Catch “two old girls you can be grateful are not your mothers”. Booking is essential. Tel: 614 9354. GLORY DAYS. Barnyard Theatre, Broadacres Shopping Centre, Cedar Avenue, Fourways. Glory Days showcases four decades of music — from rock’n’roll to the glitzy Eighties. Tel: 467 9333. HIGHLIGHTS. The Showcase, Banbury Cross Village, Hans Strijdom Drive, Randburg. On October 16, 17 and 19 Rory Rootenberg stars in Highlights, a compilation of the most requested items from his previous shows. For more info go to www.theshowcase.co.za. Book at Computicket. Tel: 794 4382. JAPES. Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, William Nicol Drive, Fourways. Until October 11 Ashley Dowds and Neels van Jaarsveld star in Simon Gray’s Japes. Two brothers fall in love with the same woman. Book at Computicket. Tel: 511 1818. LET’S ROCK YOU. Off-Broadway, 59 Grant Avenue, Norwood. Let’s Rock You looks at Queen, great love songs and the Sixties. Book at Computicket. Tel: 403 1563. MACUFE INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL, Bloemfontein. This eclectic event includes the musical The Kings of District Six, contemporary dance by Gladys Agulhas, as well as Heinrich Reisenhoffer’s Cry the Beloved Country and Jerry Pooe’s production of Athol Fugard’s The Island. Tel: (051) 447 7772. MANGO’S, 90 Oxford Road, Ferndale, Randburg. Every Wednesday catch stand-up comedy, with big names performing weekly. Dress neatly — no takkies allowed. MEN BEHAVING BADLY. Stage Door Theatre, 7 Main Road, Melville. Men Behaving Badly is yet another rock revue. Four regular guys share a commune and open a radio station, called Full Frontal, to earn some money. With Peter Taylor, Daniel de Lange, Sabelo Ngubane and Ryan Laatz. Until the end of November. More info: Tel: 482 7814. MR MEN. People’s Theatre, Civic Theatre complex, Braamfontein. Mr Men brings to life all the fun and famous characters of Roger Hargreaves. Directed by Jill Girard and Keith Smith. Until October 3. Book at Computicket. Tel: 403 1563. ODYSSEY. Extravaganza Theatre, Sun City, Pilanesberg. Odyssey has all the magic of a 21st-century extravaganza. Everything moves at the touch of a button, there is digital imagery and curtains of smoke. Shows at 8.30pm every night. Book at Computicket. Tel: (01455) 71 544. PUSS IN BOOTS. Johannesburg Youth Theatre, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown. The Grimms Brothers' Puss in Boots comes alive as a play-within-a-play. Until October 14. Book at Computicket. Tel: 484 1584. ROCKIN’ WITH ELVIS AND FRIENDS. Mardi Gras Theatre, Carnival City Casino, Elsburg Road, Brakpan. Rockin’ with Elvis and Friends is Mike McCullagh’s “musical trip through the 50s and 60s”. More Brylcreem and blue suede shoes with De Wet Wraight, Clinton Phalander, James Dobson and Elmarie Shie. Until October 4. Book at Computicket. Tel: 898 7000. ROCK LEGENDS. Nelson Mandela Theatre, Civic Theatre complex, Braamfontein. Rock Legends returns. Catch spoof outfits Abba Again, Royal Queen, The Booty Beatles and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra in this mother of all retro shows. Until October 12. Book at Computicket. Tel: 877 6800. SASOL SCHOOLS’ FESTIVAL. Johannes Stegman Theatre, Secunda. The Sasol Schools’ Festival rounds off on October 3. Productions include Yael Farber’s Amajuba, a poetry performance called The Mind Flying and a look at traditional marriage in Lobola. Tel: 673 4995. SIZZLE. Colosseum Showbar, Caesars Gauteng, Kempton Park. The red-hot cabaret revue Sizzle shows from Wednesday to Saturday at 9.30pm. It’s choreographed by Tyrone Watkins and features a cast of eight. Pop and R&B combine with a Bollywood theme. No door charge and no booking required. Tel: 928 1297. SOWHERETO POETRY AND MUSIC SHOW. Newtown Music Hall, President Street, Newtown. The SoWhereTo Poetry and Music Show is presented by Poetry in Lokomotion, who do regular slots at Cool Runnings on Thursday nights. Featured poets include Macks Papo, Chigo, Nomkhubulwane and Soul 2 Mouth. The headliner is Kgafela oa Maggogdi. On October 5 at 1pm. More info: Tel: 072 337 6023. STAND-UP COMEDY SHOWDOWN. Rascasse, Roxy Rhythm Bar, Main Road, Melville. Stand-up Comedy Showdown is this venue’s new concept that offers fledgling and aspirant comedians a space in the big sea of local humour. Catch the latest talent every second Wednesday with improvised shows and established names to complement. The audience will be called on to choose a favourite in competition. Tel: 726 6019. UPTOWN COMEDY UNDERGROUND. The Blues Room, Village Walk, Sandton. The Uptown Comedy Underground happens every Wednesday, hosted by John Vlismas. The show starts at 9pm and tickets cost R40. Tel: 784 5527. THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. Barney Simon Theatre, African Bank Market Theatre complex, Newtown. Catch the famous The Vagina Monologues here. See Pick of the Week. Book at Computicket. Tel: 832 1641. WHOLE IN ONE. Liberty Theatre on the Square, Sandton Square. James Borthwick, James Ngcobo and Graham Hopkins star in Whole in One, Paul Slabolepszy’s play about two golfers and a caddy. Until November 15. Book at Computicket. Tel: 883 8606. THE YOUNG ONES. Soundstage Supper Theatre, 16th Street, Midrand. More retro overkill in The Young Ones, comprising nine performers doing (like everybody else) Elvis, The Beatles, Abba, Queen and Cliff Richards. Book at Computicket. Tel: 315 5084. Other cities Durban | Pretoria | Cape Town