CityVarsity Melodrama One-Acts
CityVarsity Acting Department presents two one-act plays in the classic style of a melodrama. The students in the degree stream have spent the year conceptualizing, writing, rehearsing, designing and directing themselves towards two stories that deal with family, love and honour. Given the events of a departure and an arrival, they have developed productions where each character struggles with a sacrifice to make life better for their family. These first steps towards making their own work are sure to take you on an emotional journey.
Tickets include both plays.
Love and Lies in the new South Africa follows the life of William Bernard who returns home to his wife after being away for 8 years. William soon finds out that things are not how he left them, neither South Africa nor his loving wife are the same. As he uncovers the secrets and lies in what used to be his house, he must decide if he’s going to stay or go. The story takes place in 1996 and 2014, as the choices of the past affect those of the future.
Written, devised and directed by the cast | Marie - Dan-Mari Viljoen | Elizabeth Schoeman - Annemie Jordaan | Olivia Davids – Lobcke Hein | William Barnard – David Traub | Samuel Schoeman - Kitso Selato
The Divide tells the story of widowed Gisela Müller's struggle to keep both herself and her daughter alive on the less fortunate side of divided Berlin. Gisela is a hard working seamstress in a Communist-controlled factory in the East. Her daughter, Hanna is a strong-minded, 16-year-old aged by the poverty and tragedy that surrounds her. When Gisela's conniving boss, Anita offers her a better life in the West Gisela is faced with a decision that could leave her life more divided than Berlin.
Written, devised and directed by the cast | Gisela Müller - Lizelle Bernardo | Hanna Müller - Genna Blair | Anita Becker - Inez Robertson
Tickets include both plays.
Love and Lies in the new South Africa follows the life of William Bernard who returns home to his wife after being away for 8 years. William soon finds out that things are not how he left them, neither South Africa nor his loving wife are the same. As he uncovers the secrets and lies in what used to be his house, he must decide if he’s going to stay or go. The story takes place in 1996 and 2014, as the choices of the past affect those of the future.
Written, devised and directed by the cast | Marie - Dan-Mari Viljoen | Elizabeth Schoeman - Annemie Jordaan | Olivia Davids – Lobcke Hein | William Barnard – David Traub | Samuel Schoeman - Kitso Selato
The Divide tells the story of widowed Gisela Müller's struggle to keep both herself and her daughter alive on the less fortunate side of divided Berlin. Gisela is a hard working seamstress in a Communist-controlled factory in the East. Her daughter, Hanna is a strong-minded, 16-year-old aged by the poverty and tragedy that surrounds her. When Gisela's conniving boss, Anita offers her a better life in the West Gisela is faced with a decision that could leave her life more divided than Berlin.
Written, devised and directed by the cast | Gisela Müller - Lizelle Bernardo | Hanna Müller - Genna Blair | Anita Becker - Inez Robertson
Audience Responses
Absolutely loved it. What a lovely venue, and star performance. (My daughter starred in one show). Would love to attend more shows here in the future. Great atmosphere.Well done all.
Absolutely loved it. What a lovely venue, and star performance. (My daughter starred in one show). Would love to attend more shows here in the future. Great atmosphere.Well done all.
Absolutely loved it. What a lovely venue, and star performance. (My daughter starred in one show). Would love to attend more shows here in the future. Great atmosphere.Well done all.