The Sound of Music #OutAndAbout

The hills are alive with the sound of...  me singing 'Climb ev'ry mountain' all the way down the corridor...

What an incredibly special night out and such an amazing South African production - Pieter Toerien's The Sound Of Music. There is a certain expectation that precedes a classic like this and this production not only meets those expectations but even exceeds them.
The entire production is so well oiled and smooth with beautiful set transitions, truly incredible sound design and wonderful performances from the pro's and the children alike.

There is no doubt that Janelle Visagie, playing Mother Abbess is an absolute crowd favourite. Her delivery of Climb Ev'ry Mountain was just spectacular and a wonderful end to Act 1, which was already jam-packed with all the well-known favourites like Do-Re-Mi, My Favourite Things, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, The Lonely Goatherd and the title song The Sound of Music.
I could listen to the sweet sound of those nuns all day and  I want to make a special mention of my friends and two favourite nuns Genna Galloway (Sister Berthe) and LJ Neilson (Sister Sophia). I thought they were so magical in How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria....

One of the staging choices I loved was the use of the side isles in the Montecasino's Teatro.
Our seats were close to the sides, so it added a thrill and made you feel like you were right in the pews of Nonnberg Abbey when the nuns passed singing during the first scene holding small flickering candles. Or it made you tense and nervous with the gun-holding Nazi's along the sides during Captain Von Trapp's performance of Edelweiss.

Bethany Dickson is marvellous as Maria Rainer and there are moments you feel like it might even be Julie Andrews in the flesh playing opposite the stern and stringent Andre Swartz as Mr Von Trapp. And how brilliant to see such sensational theatre greats as James Borthwick playing the wonderfully animated Max Detweiler, Malcolm Terrey faultless and fabulous as Franz, Rika Sennett as the charming housekeeper Frau Schmidt and Taryn Sudding, beguiling as the wealthy Baroness Schraeder. The children were all really delightful to watch and it does help to have the oh-so talented and gorgeous Carmen Pretorius taking the lead as the eldest Von Trapp child, Liezel.

I do take my hat off to friends Duane Alexander (Resident Choreographer and Children's Director) and Anton Luitingh (Resident Director) who have the responsibility of casting and coaching three complete sets of the 6 younger Von Trapp children who rotate performances. And there is even a full stand-by cast present at the theatre every night 'in case of emergency'. And emergencies do happen! Some of the children are dealing with chicken pocks at the moment and even a few of their adult minders are down, poor things! Oh, the life of an actor! ;)

It is a captivating production that made me feel so proud watching fellow South African performers proving over and over again that they are more than a match for international stages and critics.
My favourite moment and the thought that stayed with me was when Mother Abess tells Maria...
You must find the life you were meant to live... 

Chat soon, 

Glimpses from my Crew Life #BehindTheLens

So one of the many avenues of work I am blessed with happens to be behind the lens. I am signed with the very best crew agency in SA, Call A Crew and I get to enjoy a variety of amazing set environments either as 2nd Assistant Director, Production Coordinator or Cast Coordinator.

What I love about the other side of filming is really the never-ending pace, the high-energy and ever-changing environment that really is not for the faint-hearted.

One of my very first set experiences was AD'ing on an Afrikaans short-film with a group of friends for the KykNet Silwerskerm Filmfees in 2012, called Uit Die Kaskenades - which was one of 10 short-films commisioned to be aired from about 450 entries. And from there the bug bit!



I remember working on a great OlaFilms production for Adidas in the Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg. It meant anything from scheduling,
wrangling little soccer players, sweeping glass from a tar road and everything in between. I had such great fun on that shoot.


Another Ola Films project had me working with a Norwegian company called Babusjka and we were filming in Rockville, Soweto. Our lead actor was the legend Sam Phillips, it was great to be able to watch him work. The little boy playing the 'younger Sam', had to throw a live chicken onto his parents' bed during a short scene. I got tasked with holding the chicken and passing it to the little one on 'action'!  I learnt that day that if you tie a chicken's feet together they become pretty much passive, but if you untie them - not so much!

I've even had the privilege of meeting Richard Branson's daughter, Holly last year. She is completely down to earth and was telling us all about their preparations for travelling to space with the launch of Virgin Galactic.

The corporate video world has also taken me to a few interesting places, including banks, boxing rings, breweries, insurance companies, charities, universities and many many many... many offices.

My most recent shoot, a week or so ago was on campus at the University of Pretoria, where I was running into a whole bunch of students I coached years ago in their schools' musical revue productions, who are now all students at the Varsity.
And student life at UP really does look fantastic!

The crew shot a lot of interviews and vox pops but then got creative with our cutaways. The Director Zoe and I were driving the DOP around on the back of a golf-cart, getting some great architectural shots and drawing attention every time we had to reverse with that ridiculously loud beeping sound.
All in a day's work!


I learn such a great deal every time I work a new job with a new crew and I'm looking forward to the next adventure to tell you all about...


Chat soon,

My Hair Haven #MeMoments

Last week, I finally found my follicles firmly planted in the Follicle Hair Atelier in Brooklyn... Wow, what a pamper!

I really have discovered my beauty haven and I can't be happier.

Between Walter and Hannes, I was made to feel like a queen from the minute I walked in, until the moment I left. Everyone on the Follicle team just jump to make you feel right at home, to brainstorm styling ideas together and to have you walk out completely satisfied.

I saw it not only in the way I was treated, but also the two 10 year old boys completely chuffed with their new 'gent' cuts and having fun with the Follicle mascot - the goldfish named Follie. I saw it with a male law student from Potch, coming in begrudgingly to cut his long golden 'Samson' locks and walking out a happy customer with a shorter, sophisticated yet still suave look. And also with an old friend of mine who happened to walk in for some advice on extensions for her sister's wedding in two weeks; and how she was guided to a choice that suits her lifestyle, her hair's health and her pocket.

And I just love my stylist Cornel, she is so passionate about what she does, loves every minute of it and works magic with colour, cut and styling.

Look at the lovely styling she did for me for the Opening evening of Bread and Wine - an Easter Musical that evening. Hannes even gave me a 'hot pink' lip for the occasion! I am so lucky to be an ambassador for this brand and can honestly say I wouldn't go anywhere else....

I had a very special weekend, sharing in the portrayal of a very special Easter story with special people. And I hope that today, you all enjoy a wonderful Family Day!

Have a great week,