Charmaine Weir-Smith

Expelled II

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Expelled II

Charmaine Weir-Smith stopped being my friend on Instagram. Goddammit! My life was perfect just a week ago and I had to involve Mia Khalifa! A woman who was disowned by her parents and her home country of Lebanon for her despicable acts in pornography. I should have never posted those videos, I think it’s the “XXX” video that did it, could have been the “Strap-on”, it’s far too explicit, but it’s just words and it’s meant to be humorous. Sigh. But I understand, I deserve the expulsion, it’s warranted, the shock value is too high and it’s far too dirty. It’s ironic how I elevated myself above the boy in her play who got expelled for simulating rape in a video that went viral. I sat in my seat while watching the stage and called him an idiot. I even celebrated while his life was crumbling as he lost his beautiful girlfriend. I didn’t empathize with him, I felt what was happening to him was justified. Funny how life works because now I am that idiot son on the stage. That’s how you know the story on the stage was a good one because it mirrors life. Social media is the Devils playground.

Goddammit Mia Khalifa! My life was perfect just a week ago, I had my favorite actress following me on Instagram and now I am expelled like the idiot son in her play! Oh well, life goes on for the “Consciousness of culture”. These are the stories I want to tell. “Expelled” was a classic. Charmaine could never totally expel me because we are forever linked but sure, I’ll give her her space. I still love her and her work. This is the sequel to “Expelled” and I play the idiot son!

Expelled

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Expelled

Great show, wonderful story grounded in reality. Charmaine Weir-Smith is my new favorite actress, I’ve started following her on Instagram! Her performance was awesome, she killed it! I saw my mother in her. Crazy how social media can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand you get to see pictures of your crush, on the other hand it can induce depression with the incessant comparing. Let’s not forget how a viral campaign can make or break you. It certainly destroyed this family, we have the idiot, insensitive son to thank for this misfortune. It was a stupid joke, why would they broadcast it to the world like that? It was easy to care for the characters, I think a family dynamic enforces that. The show was funny and the pacing was perfect, awesome writing and masterful acting down to the microexpressions. It was a performance show and the cast performed! I am also guilty of using Facebook as a form of escapism, it’s easier to live through the lives of others especially when your life is filled with boredom. Rape is never an easy topic, a lot of cringe moments, I was left frustrated and disappointed with the idiot son. I shared in the father’s disappointment. He deserved the expulsion and to lose his beautiful girlfriend, he gets no sympathy out of me. The marital problems of the husband and wife has me contemplating about marriage, is it viable? Is it worth it? Are all marriages like that or is it just a running gag at this point? The lighting of the show was awesome, the lights moved the show, the lighting told the story. I was watching but I didn’t feel like a bystander, I was immersed in their world, I could relate with the characters, I understood their conundrum and like them I didn’t have the answers. I love that there is no Hollywood-fairytale conclusion because life isn’t like that, the human condition is difficult and we improvise along the way, no one has the answers and we are all fated to die. No one will remember us in the grander scheme of things because time forgets. Ending the show with the sons fuck-up was a nice touch and we also saw the notorious viral video, true boys will be boys but that was the worst video I’ve ever seen in my life, deserving in the expulsion of all those who where involved. Yes, harmless fun, boys playing around, it’s a joke, it’s funny, no one was raped but the expulsion is justified, they tainted the schools image and potentially the reputation. I salute and applaud the whole team. That was a classic show, the best. I loved the social commentary, it’s fun to observe, condemn and laugh at ourselves on the stage.

My Name is Lucy Barton

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My Name is Lucy Barton

Opening night for My Name is Lucy Barton on the square. Full house, intimate. Nothing beats a full house on the square. I was with Sam, Lorrie, Bronwen and Sharon – Yahto too. Thank you for the invite Collett Dawson. I was excited for this one. I was also with Leigh Harrison, the CEO of Wisdoms123, that made my day! Julie-Anne McDowell amazing on the stage, expressive, animated, lively and alive. There’s emotion in her words, she even sheds a tear or two. That’s when you realise that theatre is serious business, better than moving pictures because you can’t fake it. Theatre is for real actors. No second take, no rerun, run now and do it perfect. Julie-Anne did it perfect, no mistakes, line over line executed perfectly. Theatre is athletic, it’s endurance, enthusiasm, I mean doing the same show around the country everyday. Same intensity, same force, same emotion! Julie-Anne has been captivating audiences nationwide. Cape Town aghast and Joburg pretty much the same. Wonderful show, expert storyteller. The writing is unbelievable! It’s a writers fairy-tale. The words are descriptive and emotive, they transport you to her world, her perspective. Family dynamics and personal identity always triumphs. Key questions as a writer though. The two articles published in the magazine, what were they about? What was the book about? That felt rushed and suddenly it popped into my consciousness. I wish more time was spent on delivering these details, I felt it would have connected more with the audience. I was curious. She’s a writer, right? Surely her subject matter matters. That wasn’t explored. When the audience is invested in the plot the pay-off is sweeter. It’s a pay-off without fireworks but it was dramatic – the lights and the music ensured that. Julie-Anne is captivating and enthralling. She is a natural born performer. There is range in her performance, how she switches tempos and emotion. She is 3 dimensional, leaping from one state and emotion to another, she had the audience spellbound throughout. The delivery in her words, no mistakes and the cues on time. She is talented. She is expressive. She gives all of herself. Again, delivery spot-on – she was totally in the moment. She makes use of the stage to perfection. She is effective. The performance was a definition of flow, she was automatic, she was pretty much great. She is a serious performer. The lighting was nauced and subtle but moved the story in a major way. It dictated the tempo and the beats of the script. Feeling; in the words, it was a performers show. One woman show, great script, wonderful lighting, minimalistic set and an outstanding performance. Shout-out Rona Munro, the script is awesome! Congratulations Charmaine Weir-Smith and the whole team and a deserved standing ovation.