DRAMA

AMERICAN DIRECTOR

The American award-winning director, Michael McAloney, should bring a touch of Broadway sparkle to the Durban stage when he directs a play for the Playhouse Company in July.

This is Shaken or Stirred, Sir? by John Godber and Jane Thornton. Described as a light-hearted comedy drama, it focuses on incidents during an evening in an upmarket cocktail bar.

The four characters will be played by Irish actress Dorina Gallagher and Durban actresses Kate Bruce, Liesl Coppin and Leeanda Reddy.

The production is then booked to tour to Toronto, Chicago and New York after the Durban season.

TIES PLAYS

The theatre-in-education company, TIES, has a busy period ahead with no less than three productions on the cards.

The double bill, both matric setworks, Mosquito Coast and Macbeth with a cast made up of Philippa Savage, Shireen James and Sean Grey will be ready to tour schools from April 10.

Dr Slisem and the Curse of the Giggle Wand

is a show for pre-primary pupils which features Loshni Naidu, Andrew Godbold and Philippa Savage and will be available to tour schools from April 29. All three productions are directed by Dennis Schauffer. For more details, contact TIES office on 463-1642.

HAPPY HUBBIES

Happy Hubbies

is a play that has been written for the Kloof Arts and Drama Society (KADS) to be performed at the Kloof Town Hall from April 10 to 12 and a week later from 17 to 19.

Happy Hubbies

takes a lighthearted look at the `ladies' of suburbia whose lives are suddenly disrupted when an ex-stripper moves in with her wealthy, retired opera singer husband!

Tickets from Kloof Sports, Kloof Mall, or phone 764-1828.

DOUBLE BILL

The new Kwasuka Theatre in Greyville will host a double bill with popular actors Ellis Pearson and Bheki Mkwame from April 10 to 26.

The plays are Boy Called Rubbish in which both Ellis and Bheki appear and Solomon's Pride a one-man dramatic piece for Bheki.

Performances will be at 18h30.



MOUSE WITH NO WHISKERS

A mouse with an endearing blink, a clacking multi-segmented otter and a stroppy mongoose with a tambourine are some of the characters you'll encounter in Nqalu, the Mouse with No Whiskers, the latest production by the Playhouse Puppet Company. It has been adapted for the stage by Andrew Godbold from the children's story by South African writer Marguerite Poland. Pillai Ngwenya has added material and translated certainpassages into Zulu.

Director Bheki Mkhwane has created a fun atmosphere helped by set, puppet and mask-designer, Greg King. Dudizile Mngadi puts in a memorable perfor-mance as a dassie!

The Mouse with no Whiskers

can be seen in the Playhouse Sanlam Loft until April 13, then at the Hexagon Theatre in Pietermaritzburg from April 14 to 19.

NB: It's a bit `wordy' for the under 5's.

BLUES TRAIN

A cast of four Gauteng-based actors makes a rare trip to Durban with their drama, Blues Train, to run in the BAT Hall at the BAT Centre at 12h00 and 20h00 on April 10, 11 and 12.

Blues Train

is created by writer, actor and director, Junior Makhoere, the first Mamelodi playwright to have his work performed overseas. Last year, Blues Train played the Edinburgh Arts Festi-val. Prior to that it appeared at the Grahamstown Festival before moving to the Netherlands.

For more information phone Junior on (012) 805-4627.

SINDERELLA TO HILTON

After breaking all records at the Playhouse Cellar, Sinderella, will play the Hilton College Theatre from April 22 to 26. Thereafter, it will head for Grahamstown and the Standard Bank National Arts Festival.

This whacky adult send-up of the much-loved pantomime features Norraine Swanby, Peter Court, Kate Bruce and Heather Barkley Whiffin with David Hierons and Anthony Stonier as the ugly sisters.