Who: Afzal Khan, Kajal Bhagwandeen, Varsha Sharma, Thulisile Khumalo, Natasha Tait
Where: The Playhouse Drama Theatre
When: Until June 22
Rating: ****
A polished, vibrant and impressive production aptly describes Chalo Cinema 3 The Road to Fame.
Director, Smeetha Maharaj, of the Nateshwar Dance Company, wasn't misleading when she said her latest show is completely different to her first two shows that were inspired by the Raj Kapoor film era.
Chalo Cinema 3 captures the spirit of the Bollywood film industry as it follows the journey of an aspiring actor and is bolstered by a cast reflective of our rainbow nation.
Visually, the musical- drama is breathtaking. The energy that pervades the dance routines is infectious and the talented cast truly perform their hearts out.
Chalo Cinema 3 opens on a film set, where an item scene is being shot. But the lead actor, in his drunken state, bungles up the routine leaving the film director, played by Afzal Khan, furious. After a heated row, the star actor walks out.
With the producer beside himself over the financial repercussions, the director decides to cast a new face. He sees potential in an extra and urges him to enroll at the Famous Film School.
The ensuing scenes take the audience through the motions of several aspiring actors. And their journey is punctuated with cleverly penned lines, amusing histrionics and adrenaline-fuelled, breathtaking performances.
Some of the standout scenes include the frank Tamil-speaking teacher putting her students through the grind trying to get them to master the classical art form of dance, a gender-confused drama professor teaching the aspiring actors to tap into their real-life emotions and the prop room scene, where different dance forms get a platform. Thrown in the mix is a solo routine to Michael Jackson's Thriller.
Aside from the choreography boasting a SA flavour with African dance styles complementing the Indian moves, the interwoven satirical scenes contribute greatly to the entertainment value.
The sets are jaw-dropping, the musical drama flows at an exhilarating pace and the overall effect is mind-blowing. What other reason is there to catch Chalo Cinema 3?
- Tickets: R75 (R60 for pensioners, R50 for scholars). For more information or to book, contact Computicket or the Playhouse Box Office on 031-369-9540/9536.