David Muller as Oom Schalk Lourens Photo credit: Amitie Lee
The inimitable Oom Schalk Lourens, played by actor David Muller, returns his white rose to the deep south for a three week season of OOM SCHALK: FROM THE HEART 2 at the intimate Kalk Bay Theatre from 24 March.
When Herman Charles Bosman created the lovable Oom Schalk Lourens as narrator for most of his short stories, he knew the power of words: "Words are the most powerful instruments that life holds, and since poetry expresses itself through the medium of these tools, it is inevitable that the poet must exercise a stronger influence than a general or a statesman." Bosman went on to say that it is for the poet and the artist to tell us about the real Africa, writing that "Africa has much to teach us of thought that it is created in sand and ceremony and that life is an ancient ritual." No wonder writers and actors are still writing and staging work about Bosman.
Perspicaciously directed by Celia Musikanth, David Muller continues with the classic tradition of story-telling where Percy Sieff and Patrick Mynhardt left off. Muller inhabits the Schalk Lourens character and truly plays him from the heart. Included in the new show are stories embracing subjects ranging from love to postal strikes and elongated trances in the pulpit, from music makers to peach brandy.
A family treat from that has been performed in Durban, Grahamstown and Cape Town, the first edition OOM SCHALK: FROM THE HEART delighted critics and audiences alike. The second in the series promises to do the same.
There is also a surprise give away or two during interval. "Two lucky patrons stand to walk away with an anthology each of Bosman's short stories," Muller explains, "and those in the front row may be refreshed with a little of Schalk's favorite drink."
The show opens on 24 March and runs until 12 April at the Kalk Bay Theatre, starting at 20:30 nightly with, the exception of 4 April when the show will start at 18:30. There is limited seating so booking is strongly advised. Tickets at R120 each may be booked online at the Kalk Bay Theatre website or by calling Allan on 021 788 7257 (betweem 15:00 and 20:00 on Tuesdays - Saturdays). On Tuesdays, two tickets can be bought for the price of one.
