Represent Review: Steve Hofmeyr @ Emperor’s
Love him or hate him, Steve Hofmeyr is one of the country’s most successful artists and without a doubt has sweated and persevered through the years to maintain his position as Afrikaans music’s golden boy. Word has it he is also a serious blogger with a massive following (here) – we like the digital touch Steve. SO we sent off one of our Representah’s to check him out in a Kris Kristofferson tribute at Emperor’s Palace. Thanks to Werner for the review: Steve Hofmeyr – Help me make it through the night. Date and time : Wednesday, May 16, 2007 – Saturday, June 02, 2007 Cost : Tickets from R120 Property : Emperors Palace Venue : Theatre of Marcellus I recently had the wonderful opportunity of attending a Steve Hofmeyr performance at Emperor’s Palace. The production was based on Kris Kristofferson classics and was named “Help me make it through the night”. I’m extremely glad to report that as per usual, we were not disappointed. In fact, it just proved once again that South Africa is filled to the brim with incredible talent. Steve transported us to an era where nothing but music mattered and did so with his usual charming and cool demeanor. During the performance he revived some of the Kris Kristofferson classics in such a way that even the original artist would have been proud. It turns out that I am in fact a closet Kris fan after all! Steve explained that Kris was one of his fathers all time favorite performers and after the hour long performance, I think many people could see why. Kris is an incredible performer himself, but I think the part that impressed me most was his absolutely amazing life. He dated Janis Joplin for quite a while and as we all know, that was no mean feat. He was nominated for an Oscar and for a BAFTA award and has won a Golden Globe! He even landed a helicopter on Johnny Cash’s front lawn to get his attention! Steve would have made this legend a very proud man with his absolutely superb performance. Steve is well known for his very distinctive voice and I’m sure that everyone that attended the night would agree that he would have been the number one pick to perform the Kris classics. I found the entire production incredibly moving and once Steve explained the father connection it made a lot of sense – I wish that he had started the performance rather than ending it with his explanation, but it didn’t deter from the absolute pleasure in any way. Something else that struck me about the night, was the...
Represent Reminder: Sasol New Signatures closing!
*ARTISTS this is just a reminder to get entering! Entries close 6 June* For the last two years now we’ve supported the Sasol New Signatures competition, the search for the freshest artistic talent coming through the ranks…last year they had a fat R100k to give away to the winners and this year it’s the same (what no inflation?). What we love about the competition is that there is a dedicated section for NEW MEDiA – yes that’s all you digital designer gurus. And you can enter your work online – now there’s no excuse but to give it a bash. The other two categories include installation, photography, drawing, sculpture and painting so it’s pretty broad. You’ve got a month to create your winner… so Artists get going. Make sure you’re over 18 and make sure you abide by the rules and get your work in by/on Tues 5 June and Wed 6 June. More info here. Online entries for the Sasol New Signatures Competition 2007 are open. Aspiring young artists can register and enter their works between 2 May and 6 June 2007 at www.sasolsignatures.co.za. The online facility provides artists with a secure and cost-effective platform to present works for the first round of judging. It also extends accessibility to the competition beyond the six national collection points and physical submission dates. To enter online, artists are required to register a profile on the website before submitting a work. Online entries must be submitted in one of three categories: * Category A includes all two dimensional artworks and incorporates drawings, photography and all types of paintings. * Category B includes three dimensional artworks such as sculptures and installations. * Category C is for all new media. This may involve videos and electronic applications. Feedback from last year’s entrants showed that the cost of transporting works to the exhibition is a barrier to entry for many young artists. For the 2007 competition Sasol has entered into a partnership with Stuttaford Van Lines to sponsor the transportation of works selected for the exhibition from the regional collection points in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Bloemfontein to Pretoria. Artists will be responsible for the secure packing and of crating works for transportation. The online submission facility and a transportation partnership with Stuttaford Van Lines provide an inexpensive and safe option for young cash-strapped artists to take part in the competition. Physical submissions will be accepted on Tuesday, 5 June 2007 and Wednesday, 6 June 2007 between 10:00 and 16:00 at the national collection points in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria. The competition is open to up-and-coming South African...
BENG BENG BENG – Femi Kuti here on Fri!
*UPDATE: BengBengBeng – don’t miss Femi Kuti guys – it’s this Friday start planning now. We are finding out the concert schedules/times for you and will let you know shortly. * Time for some good news! We have been waiting a long time to see one of Africa’s most incredible performers in SA. Get ready for an energetic, sexy, move your bones performance from the inimitable Nigerian SupaFunkArtist Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti right here on Southern African soil. There’s no excuse not to be there ‘coz it’s a FREE concert in one of Jozi’s coolest places, Mary Fitgerald Square in Newtown, all in celebration of AFRICA day – damn it feels good to be African today. Lets ALL go downtown. Support the city, the country and the continent! If you don’t know Femi, buy his music now. So put Friday night the 25 May in your diaries now and REPRESENT with more brilliant music from Ringo, the mysterious SAMA winner Lesego, Louis Mhlanga and others on the night… It just gets better on Saturday the 26th May with another free concert in Jukskei Park in Alex featuring Kwaito’s flavour of the moment (We heart LVD) L’VoVo Derango, the soulful Siphokazi and the ever popular Flabba then if you still ain’t partied out, head on over to Mofolo Park SOWETO on Sunday the 27th May for more Femi and our best girl Lira and our main man HHP, hopefully with his full band. SHO! It’s seriously jam-packed. Here are the details: The weekend-long Africa Day celebrations are about to commence, and preparations are at an advanced stage for the various events that will take place on the weekend of May 25th. This years Africa Day activities, hosted by the City of Joburg, the French Institute, Arts Alive, the Lotto and SABC will take place as three free events throughout different areas of Joburg, namely Newtown, Alexandra and Soweto. The festivities kick off on May 25th, with a concert at the Mary Fitzgerald Square, featuring Nigerian afro-beat star Femi Kuti, South Africa’s Ringo, Lesego, Corlea and Louis Mhlanga, Zambian vocalist Lindiwe, Ugandan Kinobe as well as the Vuvuzela Orchestra. The concert, which is free to members of the public will be televised on SABC2 and SABC Africa from 22h00 – 00h00 on Friday, 25th May. The next day, May 26th, the move is in Alexandra’s Jukskei Park, where a fashion show with a difference will take place along the banks of the Jukskei River, followed by performances by Flabba, L’vovo Derango and Siphokazi, all open to the public at no charge. The final part of the Afro-centric celebrations takes place at Soweto’s Mofolo Park, where Femi...
Represent Review: The Maids @ WITS
Sharpile Linda for the review – catch The Maids at WITS before the 26th May: Do yourself a favour – read the play by Jean Genet (or read something about it) before you go and watch this stage adaptation. The opening scenes are vague, abstract. I felt a bit lost in the beginning, but I was fine again when I eventually realised that there were two characters playing each of the maids. The first scene opens in a boudoir, opulent with red velvets white lace and flowers, where the two maids, Solange and Claire (played by four characters) take turns acting out the part of their employer, Madame. This ritual, which they perform nightly, is great parody, mimicking and exaggerating Madame’s whims and irrational demands – almost reminiscent of our own “Madam and Eve”, only more sinister. In the maids’ game, they try to kill Madame. Madame is obnoxious and completely self-absorbed, languishing after her lover (Monsieur) who is in prison because a whistleblower alerted the police to his involvement in shady dealings. The master/slave relationship is depicted with poignancy and depth. The maids envy Madame’s lifestyle and wealth, but pity her loneliness and are at turns amused and disgusted by her condescending attitude towards them. Madame is plagued by guilt and sometimes irritation at the maids’ obsequiousness, but also has a malicious streak. In one scene she gives them gifts – a fine evening gown and a fur coat, but soon changes her mind and takes the gifts back, paying scant attention to the maids’ humiliation and disappointment. The maids’ imaginary desire to kill Madame has self-destructive consequences for them, but I won’t give away the story. The acting is superb and there are some really intense moments. The play has some powerful messages about the imbalance of power in domestic workers’ relationships with their employers. In one scene, Claire makes a profound statement, “her joy feeds off our shame”, which certainly gave me pause for thought. I would love for someone to take the bold step of adapting this to a South African context. Catch this play at the Wits Amphitheatre from 16th to 26th May. Tickets at Computicket....
Represent Review & photos: Smirnoff Legends
Reuben “the Matrix” had the time of his life at the Smirnoff Legends event this week as he colourfully tells us, he was chuffed to really get up close with a few of his gurus squeezing in an interview here and there.. Click here for our photoset of the party on Flickr.: “It’s my house!” I repeatedly found myself on the verge of exclaiming these famous house lyrics as the genre’s gallantry Grand Dukes: Joss Fresh, Vinny, Ganyani, Oskido & Christos took to the stage to showcase their eloquent vinyl mastery and reflexive agility behind the turntables! Hazeldene Hall – Parktown was truly the place to be (Wednesday 16 May 2007) for any serious nocturnal party animal. To put it mildly: The roof was ablaze, however no canister was summoned to expunge the scorching flames! There’s just something about being at a VIP event that adds some extra flair to the exclusive modus operandi (you literally get spoilt rotten by all that choice-assorted – royal treatment!): The vibrant atmosphere, unrestricted access to the Legends, well prepared & equally mouth-watering cuisine, extremely vivacious women & well groomed hunks (for the ladies of course!) and so much liquor you could literally call upon around the clock (it’s just too much pampering to ask for at a go!). Alas!, don’t be fooled! All that lavishness is minute when in direct contrast to the artistic craftsmanship of the Legends – No, The Kings of House Music. The Event kicked off with a well-organized reception populated to capacity by beautiful people and presided over by the MC – Greg Maloka. Opening the performers` line-up was the hip and happening Gang of Instrumentals with their afro-rhythm beats (enough to get the guests into a series of dance-floor frenzies). Indeed the good came to us who decided to wait as the standards were elevated by the Men of the hour, the Legends of House Music in physical manifestation: The Forefather of House Music –DJ Ganyani, The Godfather of the Airwaves – DJ Fresh, Grandmasters of the decks – DJ`s Oskido (AKA Oscar wa rona), Vinny Da Vincy and Christos wowed the audience with well-known house tracks and maestro skills. It appeared as if the thumping crowd was unconsciously drenched in melodic aphrodisiac as though heavily intoxicated by the intertwined vinyl repertoires. A young, budding and amazingly talented new star (Black Coffee) was handed the platform by the Legends to dish-out his apprentice sharpened turntable tempo reflexes – Much to the exclamation and reverence of the audience! The evening culminated in the Legends (Kings) being honored for their invaluable and pioneering efforts towards nurturing and constantly setting new trends (re-inventing the wheel) which made...
Represent Review: MoLoRa @ the Market
Sitting in the cosy enclave of the Barney Simon theatre on press night at award-winning writer and director Yael Farber’s play MoLoRa is no mean feat for an amateur. Leaning forward all around you sit wizened thespians cuddled up close to expectant theatre journo’s, whose concentrating faces you recognise from the little photo’s next to their columns. As the lights went down I felt like a bit of a fraud amongst the aficionados, for although I studied Drama and have spent a lot of my life popping in and out of theatres, I ain’t no expert. The subject is “Yael Farber’s acclaimed adaptation of the Oresteia Trilogy by Aeschylus, set in a contemporary South African context.” It’s a complicated story and somewhat unknown tale – we found it to be a challenging play to review… we’ve been struggling to eloquently word what we felt. But review it we must and review it from the POV of the everyday man and citizen journo we must do too. It’s the only way we know how. Firstly, let’s talk about the great things about Molora, starting with the the powerful soundscape provided by a group of animated and delightful older Xhosa musicians (gogo’s!). They are as much a part of the story as the lead characters, providing textured and haunting mood changes and at times a poignant, eery, mystical soundtrack through traditional instruments and an incredible split-tone guttural singing style. Watching and listening to them one is easily transported to a deep-rooted Xhosa gathering in the green hills of the Eastern Cape – their music weaving it’s tribal rhythms through the narrative… Then there’s the set which was minimalist but craftily designed around the story’s needs, with the numerous performers feeling comfortable on a small stage – the clever use of the space and it’s flexibility allowed us the freedom to fill in the gaps with our imagination. Our favourite moment was when the young muscular Oresties swings in slow motion on a handle around the stage, mesmerising… The lighting design was superb, moving from harsh neon glare to deep and intimate warm isolated scenes. The performance was highly energetic and very physical and loud – the part of the daughter, Electra was a gallant effort by Jabulile Tshabalala, who put enormous concentration and her soul into her demanding role. Sandile Matsheni played the smaller role of Orestes, wearing the emotions of his character artfully. The part that we were confused by was that played by Dorothy Anne Gould who appeared to be over-acting and over-playing her character in an almost amateur-theatre style. “Look at how cross and mad I look, listen to how deep my angry voice...
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