SamSays | antakalipa

Charlie and the Chocolate factory

Follow the music of the Maestro, feel it, let it envelop your whole being, breath through your pores and express itself in your movements. Ballet, sensitivity, technique, balance, composure, calm, grace, poise and beauty. Let go, immerse yourself in the present moment, time moves for you, stretch your anatomy, be the pulse in which life revolves around, be one with all of life, be vulnerable, feel. Conductor, conductor, conductor, I love it when they walk on their toes, it’s like they are floating, spinning like tops in the air, like gravity isn’t a factor, like clouds are made of concrete but it doesn’t matter because they are skipping ahead. It’s unbelievable how they do splits in the air, complete 180 degrees airborne and they stick the landing. The leap in the air is totally gorgeous. Sam and I were excited for this one weeks prior and it delivered with flying colors. SamSays on the credits. It’s mind-boggling how the ballet dancers can support the whole of their weight on their toes, it’s like they don’t have ankles, it’s effortless too, like it’s not a big deal, like this is how I walk, like I make time slow down. The beauty of the human anatomy, finally I understand. It’s art, how it stretches, the muscles, how it bends, how flexible it is, and how glorious it is when it has attained mastery. It’s pure awe, it takes your breath away. Ballet is the celebration of God’s glory, he is showing off. The motion of their hands when they move on stage, it’s like current is flowing through their bodies, it’s slow motion, freeze frame, photogenic, zen, graceful, absolutely beautiful.

I was at the opening of the Mario Gaglione ballet show at the Joburg Theatre, “Charlie and the Chocolate factory” by Roald Dahl, music by Mark Cheyne and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Full house, no empty seat. Unbelievable show, loved every moment of it. A complete theatrical experience with an emsemble that featured all age groups. The show is visually rich and is paced through the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The performers are expressive facially and they explore the stage like voyagers, skipping, leaping throughout. The performers are mesmerizing. They dance with complete freedom and expression, like demons allowed to leave hell for a couple of minutes, but it’s not demonic, it’s beautiful – everything is beautiful. No dialogue, the classic story of “Charlie and the Chocolate factory” is told through the medium of ballet, dance, visuals and glorious music that strings you along from the first minute to it’s climax. Even Willy Wanka is a ballet dancer. The dancers are exquisite even the kids. The costumes have personality and the set keeps changing to add to the texture and dimension of the show. The Orchestra have range and have the ability to make you happy, sad or to make you laugh. They are the backbone of the show and keep you hooked from the start. Perfect show, beautifully told and executed with precision and attention to detail. I loved the show, a must watch for theatre enthusiasts. Special praise and reverence for Monike Cristina, I understand beauty because I witnessed her on the stage, her level of focus and execution is second to none, she moved like a swan. Congratulations to Mario Gaglione and the whole team for a beautiful show and a deserved standing ovation.

Meat Loaf – The Rebel Ride 🔥

First time at The Cirk, Sam crossed the ball from the flank and I headed it in for the match winning goal. Excited about seeing the Meat Loaf show for the whole week. I got the “very best of” album, double disk, to prime myself for the experience. This show is 🔥🔥🔥, nothing but fire emojies. When fire is around, you have to look at it, you can’t screen it out, it forces you to look, to invest your energy. Something evolutionary about fire, perhaps Darwin has something on it. We surrounded the stage like a bonfire, it was impossible to look away. Immersive experience, you have no time to be bored, there’s always something to look at, beautiful chaos with the acrobats, they are athletic with great bodies, 6 pack and puffed out chests. The ladies are flexible and elastic. The acrobats basically did the impossible, amazing, heart in your mouth stuff, breathtakingly beautiful but looks devilishly dangerous. The show was a performers heaven, they were dancing, singing and flying next to us – the audience. Yahto Kraft is an amazing vocalist and is backed up by more amazing singers. The show is very energetic and youthful, it was bursting with vitality, the performers looked happy on the stage, like they were unleashed, like the present moment was all that they had. The show was interactive and theatrical, it had a structure and storyline. The sound crisp and clear not loud but you can’t hear a thing when the show is on, you are in the show, you’re in, you’re in. Once again music with guitars about love prevails. The Lighting helped with attention since there was a lot going on – acrobats flying all around the room and performers singing and dancing on stage simultaneously. 🔥 show! Crazy and weird costumes though, but it’s rock, Rockstars are not known for being normal. Unbelievable show! It was celebrative, joyous, fun and I was in awe most of the time. It was 🔥🔥🔥, nothing but fire emojies, this I mean in a literal sense, one of the performers was playing with fire like nunchucks while the acrobats were in the air doing their stuff, with the rest of the performers singing and dancing on stage simultaneously! Some of the songs performed were “Took the words right out of my mouth”, “two out off three ain’t bad”, “Rock and Roll dreams come true” and my absolute favorite “I would anything for love” it was the last song. Yahto killed that last song, I really enjoyed that, I loved it! Congratulations Timothy Le Roux, The Cirk and the whole team for a great show and a deserved standing ovation.