A Certain Lady
Emily Child graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2007 with a Theatre and Performance Degree, specializing in Acting. Since then she has worked independently and as a proud member of acclaimed theatre troupe The Mechanicals, whose work has garnered her numerous Fleur Du Cap award nominations. Her recent work includes Shakespeare's “LEAR” directed by Guy De Lancey, “CHAMP” by Louis Viljoen and directed by Greg Karvellas which she performed at the Edinburgh Festival 2013, as well as Marc Camoletti’s farce “Don’t Dress for Dinner” directed by Steven Stead, which toured Johannesburg and Cape Town. In December 2013 Emily was part of LA based Zombie Joe’s Underground and Mechanicals’ co-production “Urban Death”, directed by Jana Wimer. On screen Emily can be seen in the online Mockumentary series pilot “Armed Response” which just won the best short film at the SHNIT International Festival.
Greg Karvellas is a UCT alumni who studied under Christopher Weare, Mark Fleishman, Liz Mills and Geoffrey Hyland. Greg has worked as a director, producer, actor and production manager in theatre, film and television for over ten years. He is the co-owner (with Louis Viljoen) of Dark Red Productions which has produced the plays “The Abusers” (director), “The Bile Boys” (actor), “The Frontiersmen” (director) and “The Verbalists” (designer), as well as the feature film “Cowboy” (actor). Greg also directed the hit play “CHAMP”, which ran at Artscape, the Fugard Theatre, the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013.
Media & Reviews
Review of A Certain Lady by Robyn Cohen
Review of A Certain Lady by Therese Owen
Review of Certain Lady by Steyn Du Toit
Review of A Certain Lady by Eugene Yiga
Review of A Certain Lady by Benn van der Westhuizen
Press Release for A Certain Lady
Audience Responses
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.
I really enjoyed the show. The performance was great and I thought this kind of production really suited the venue. Hope to see more similar events in future
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.
We had a lovely evening - we enjoyed the show very much. I think Ms Child was fantastic as Ms Parker, Happy days until the next time..
Great actress!
Positive I thought that the visual presentation of the play was incredible, and the actresses portrayal of her character excellent - she is a very talented young lady, who is totally able to hold the audience's attention, although the melodramatic subject matter was probably better suited to a female audience. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. Negative My friend and I however, decided to stay for a second performance of After Dark - what a huge disappointment! The cast were barely engaged with the audience, some hardly looking up at all to notice if anyone was actually watching the play, and it seemed very amateur overall. The lead singer seemed to stumble over his words and again didn't seem present, he also struggled with really bad sound volumes from a technical side. The exquisite costumes were a redeeming factor, as was the one performer who did seem comfortable in her role and played her part very well - the mischievous, naughty character. I would not recommend this play to anyone.
Too hot in the theatre but an engaging, seamless and funny show.
Emily is an incredibly talented woman.
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.
I feel the performance was impeccable. She portrayed to perfection, the desperation and the loneliness of a single woman wanting so badly to be loved. The humorous moments were equally poignant and heartbreaking.BRAVO
A brilliant little one-woman show, entertaining and poignant. She did it very well including not letting the accent slip once.
Sensitive, funny performance by Emily Childs and a very clever set. I thought it was swell. It was a fantastic evening, thanks.
A gem of a show with Emily Child at her most charming and Greg Karvellas directing with his accustomed understated elegance.
Outstanding show. The script was great and Emily Child was flawless.
A very talented actress, it was a pity that the story was weak. This was our fourth visit this year and sadly the one we liked the least.
A Certain Lady was thoroughly enjoyable: funny, engaging and, at times, poignant. Emily Child is extraordinarily talented. Her energy, charm and talent were most evident. I would definitely recommend A Certain Lady to to friends and family.
Dorothy Parker is one of my favourite writers of all time and Emily Child did an absolutely fantastic job of capturing her sardonic wit and vulnerability, yet also the idiosyncrasies of her time. I was completely enthralled for the entire hour and found Child's balance of humour, grace, cynicism and sincerity to be extremely refreshing. I would absolutely love to watch this clever and inspiring piece of theater again and think that Child was the perfect lady for the role.
All three of us loved it! Emily Child is brilliant. Will recommend this show.
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.
A heartfelt story executed in a stunningly engaging way!
Emily Child is outstanding! Although that scene of her imitating the guy stuffing his face at the dinner party went on one too many times. :)
great! really well done
It was amazing! I loved every minute! It is the second time I have seen the show and I loved how I could relate to completely different aspects this time to last time. What an amazing actress Emily is, she is such a pleasure to watch.
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.
Just a lovely fun show that all can relate to. Perfect one-hander for the space.
Great show. Very funny.
Hi There I came to watch the performance on friday with 10 friends. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. We all really loved it and I must say. What a amazing actress. We tried to find her on social media to say thank you but couldn't. Please pass the msg. Regards Ayeh
We loved it! A certain lady is an excellent blend of humour and pathos - told with honesty and charm by the always engaging Emily Child. I would recommend this to everyone to see - it' was a joy to watch. Well done to all involved.
Emily Child's delivery of the adaptation was flawless. She has the perfect legs for sheer silk - and the best teeth in the business. Very beautifully crafted by Actor and Director. Loved it - thanks !
Actor and Director two highly talented people showing South Africa has world class acts. More plays directed by this Director please. Venue and service great. Best Margarita in town.
It was a thoroughly entertaining show - combining different elements smoothly. Well done to Greg, Emily and the Alexander Bar team!
A very contrasted performance. I really enjoyed the way Emily Child switched from gaiety to sarcasm to despair, taking us through a whole array of emotions in only one hour. A very nice evening.
5 out of 5- the show was excellent and ewmily Childs was very good indeed. Please give her my congratulations. I taught her when she was in grade 8 @ Wynberg Girls' and I was most impressed. Well done and thank you ! High School
Fabulous actress, but script could've been a either a bit more funny or pointed
Emily Child portrayed Dorothy Parker with sass and soul and large amounts of charm.A fine performance indeed . https://www.facebook.com/notes/curious-girl/child-is-a-charming-certainity/664944233564758
Totally engaging , mesmerizing and fabulous performance from Emily. Slickly packaged by Greg Karvellas . Thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
Unfortunately, due to there being some or other event at Cape Town Stadium, I was unable to reach the theatre in time to enjoy the show.
Loved it. See my blog for more. http://thecaperobyn.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-certain-lady-at-alexander-upstairs-in.html
The show was amazing... Bar spectacular...and wine delicious! What more could you ask for? Thank you for a wonderful evening! Emily Child is a true gem, definitely a star in the making.
Simple, effective show. Great performance and direction.
Charming. With hidden bite.
Was a great show. Emily Child is very talented!
Great performance, entertaining material.
I found the overall design and concept clever, sophisticated, and effective. I liked the way the piece increasingly emphasised the pain underneath the caustic wit, and that the depressive,sometimes suicidal aspect of D Parker's personality emerged, giving depth to the conventional view of her. For me, it provided a starkly feminist reading. Acting very good indeed,considering was a solo performance in an intimate space. A satisfying theatrical experience.
Excellent Show!
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.
Very clever use of the silent movie to put us into the world of the 1920's. The show was very appropriate for the venue, which has a lovely atmosphere. A definate must see for those who want catch a glimpse of life in the 1920's.
All three of us loved it! Emily Child is brilliant. Will recommend this show.
A 5-star performance!
Emily is an incredibly talented woman.
Loved it! Poignant, funny and sad all at the same time.
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.
Emily Child strikes just the right note of Dorothy Parker's desperation, frustration and steely wit. Well directed by Greg Karvellas. But I missed SEEING the telephone in the Tel Call.
An enjoyable and fun evening, thank you :)
Hi There I came to watch the performance on friday with 10 friends. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. We all really loved it and I must say. What a amazing actress. We tried to find her on social media to say thank you but couldn't. Please pass the msg. Regards Ayeh
Last night was my first ever Alexander Bar experience and it couldn't have been more amazing! The performance was painfully and humorously honest. I enjoyed the small, intimate setup of the theatre. Food was tasty and reasonably priced and staff were delightful! We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and cannot wait to come back! Thank you! May
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.
it was a privilege to be able to enjoy such a wonderful actress giving her all to an excellent piece. great concept, the play and the theatre. i look forward to more of this calibre.