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Lack of black makes a big impact
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March 10, 2009
By Zane Henry
The theme for 2009's Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards at the Artscape Theatre on Sunday night was "Inspired by Nature", and green was the dominant colour.
There was a green carpet. There was green envy that slag wore the same shoes as me. There was also green nausea after overindulging in Fleur Du Cap bubbly and decadent Lindt balls.
Yet, it was "black" that made the biggest impact.
Or, at least, the lack of black.
In 2008, I wrote about the exclusion of black languages during the ceremony. In 2009, they made the inspired choice of having the multilingual devil Nik Rabinowitz host the event, alongside the venerable Thoko Ntshinga.
The pairing was inspired, despite the occasional fumble and omission.
Still, the lack of representation by black African artists is startling and made my plush seat strangely uncomfortable.
Thank God Mwenya Kabwe, much-deserved winner of Best Actress in a Leading Role, called them on it.
In her gracious speech, Kabwe said: "I can't help feeling a little cynical at being the only darkie on the nominee list."
The auditorium's collective sphincter contracted, followed by a silence in which you could hear a monogrammed cufflink drop.
The race card is legitimate if it is in the hand it is dealt.
It's worth noting that the only black African winner at 2008's ceremony, Chuma Sopotela, was in the same category.
The racial dichotomy of the awards may not be a simple black and white issue, I concede, but greater steps need to be taken at diversifying the awards.
There were other battles won on the night. Megan Choritz and her Theatresports team won long-deserved recognition by scoring the Award for Innovation in Theatre and The People's Choice Award. Nice one, Megan.
Other highlights included John Caviggia's magnificently perambulatory acceptance speech for Best Costume Design; Quanita Adams, winner of Best Supporting Actress, thanking Uncle Paul Mitchell for her slick hairdo; and Rabinowitz being politely schooled in isiXhosa by Ntshinga.
The entire evening was artfully directed by Geoffrey Hyland.
The entertainment was provided by La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre, Laurika Rauch and Dizu Plaatjies, an extract from Bovim Ballet's Tango Nights, Loukmaan Adams and collaboration between four Standard Bank Young Artists winners, Mark Fransman, Kesivan Naidoo, Concord Nkabinde and Zanne Stapelberg.
After the awards ceremony, the foyer was thronged with the well-heeled keen to take advantage of the sumptuous refreshments on offer.
Kebabs and prawn cocktails and Camembert… oh my!
Award ceremonies are curious affairs.
The vague self-congratulatory haze is strangely comforting, even if you weren't nominated.
Politics falls by the wayside as people get drunker and love each other more.
And this is really not such a bad thing.
The Fleur du Cap Awards, sponsored and managed by Distell, are chaired by Conrad Sidego. Panellists are: Marianne Thamm, Mariana Malan, Robert Greig, Marina Griebenow, Dr Beverley Brommert, Len Ashton, Wilhelm Snyman, Brent Meersman, Denise Bester, Herman van der Westhuizen and Peter Tromp. The proceeds from the ceremony go towards theatre development in the Western Cape.
And The Winners Are ...
Most Promising Student
Christiaan Olwagen - Stellenbosch University
Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors
Michael Inglis for Venom
Best New SA Play
Mike van Graan for Die Generaal
Best Prop Design
Nicholas and Luke Ellenbogen for Raiders, Rasputin's Rectangle
Best Costume Design
John Caviggia for The Merchant of Venice
Best Lighting Design
Jaco Bouwer, Albert Snyman and Rudolph van Jaarsveld for Smag
Best Set Design
Fred Abrahamse for Assassins
Best Performance in a Revue or Cabaret
The cast of Not the Midnight Mass: Graham Weir, Christine Weir, Jason Ralph, Pierre van Heerden and Amanda Tiffin.
Best Performance: Musical
André Jacobs for Samuel Byck in Assassins
Best Performance in a One-Person Show
Shaleen Surtee-Richards for Shirley in Shirley Valentine
Award for Innovation in Theatre
Megan Choritz - Theatresports
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lynette Marais (Former National Arts Festival Director)
The People's Choice Award
TheatreSports
Best Actress: Supporting Role
Quanita Adams for multiple roles in Cissie
Best Actor: Supporting Role
Guy de Lancey for Shelley Levine in Glengarry Glen Ross
Best Actor: Leading Role
Jeremy Crutchley for Shylock in The Merchant of Venice
Best Actress: Leading Role
Mwenya Kabwe for Alma in Yellowman
Best Director
Jaco Bouwer for Smag
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