Jailoshini Naidoo stars in ‘Funniest Moments- The Best of Ronnie Govender’
Who can forget SA’s longest running play, ‘The Lahnee’s Pleasure’, or celebrated Govender titles such as ‘At The Edge’, ‘1949’, ‘Off-Side!’, ‘ In-Side!’, ‘Beyond Calvary’ and ‘Swami among’ others?
Presented and performed by stage and TV personality, Jailoshini Naidoo, Funniest Moments, a special tribute to Durban’s legendary playwright Ronnie Govender, will be staged at Sibaya Casino’s iZulu Theatre from April 16 to 19, 2015.
Two lifetime achievements awards: declared a Living Legend by KZN’s Premier’s office, an Honorary Doctorate from DUT, the list of awards for Ronnie Govender goes on, marking a lifetime of splendid achievements, notable among which is his highly-entertaining and thought-provoking body of plays.
Who can forget SA’s longest running play, ‘The Lahnee’s Pleasure’, or celebrated Govender titles such as ‘At The Edge’, ‘1949’, ‘Off-Side!’, ‘ In-Side!’, ‘Beyond Calvary’ and ‘Swami among’ others? These works offer hilarity at its highest, and bathos at its most moving.
In honour of the recent 80th birthday of this giant of the theatre, award-winning actress, Jailoshini Naidoo, formidable in her own right as an artist, has put together ‘Funniest Moments’, a thoroughly entertaining pastiche of memorable excerpts from Ronnie Govender’s outstanding plays.
This theatrical treat presented by Durban’s actress par excellence, stars Jailoshini in what promises to be a roller-coaster ride of superb entertainment. The much-loved star will be supported by two other luminaries of the stage, the brilliant singer/muso, Ramesh Hassen, and well known actor, Henry Ramkissoon (of The Dingalings fame), who has established himself as an outstanding comic.
The stunning Jailoshini said, “Last year, Ronnie Govender turned 80. The thought that went through my mind was that this was a milestone in the brilliant career of a writer and director, who has been widely honoured over the years. The unswerving, often lone struggle by this stalwart to establish non-racial theatre and his eventual list of outstanding productions is well known. Yet while the country aptly celebrated the 80th birthday of another luminary, Athol Fugard, we neglected to do so with our own multi award-winning playwright. This is what motivated me, with Govender’s permission, to put this production together.”
Having worked under Govender often, Jailoshini is well acquainted with his several box office hits. “While it was a labour of love, I must confess that selecting excerpts from all these wonderful plays for ‘Funniest Moments’ was a nightmare – simply because I had a hard time deciding what to leave out,” she added. The production promises a wealth of hilarious and moving moments selected from over 16 plays written and directed by Govender over a span of 35 years.
Performances of ‘Funniest Moments’ are at 8pm on Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 8:30pm. On Saturday, April 18, it will take place at 3pm and at 6pm on Sunday, April 19. Tickets are available at Computicket or Shoprite Checkers outlets. You can call 0861-915 -8000 to book your ticket or even visit www.computicket.com
