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The annual Cape Amateur Theatre Awards (CATA) were held in Somerset West last week, to celebrate thespians young and old, and their achievements in the arts during 2016.
At a beautifully-staged event, hosted at The Playhouse Theatre , attendees were welcomed with a walk up the red carpet, live music and bubbly in the foyer, and an air of festivity and excitement akin to the Oscars (without, however, and envelope gaffes)…
It was an auspicious event for more than one reason: it coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society (HHDS), and guests were treated to a slide-show of archived photographs, showing the evolution of this theatre society.
Nominees and guests were all dressed to the nines for the occasion (other than yours truly, who had just put the previous edition of Bolander “to bed” before heading straight to The Playhouse).
An invigorating “first act”, which comprised a compilation of sequences from the various plays up for awards, set a high note for the remainder of the evening.
As it turned out, the chap who “nicked” my seat, C9 (to whom I then graciously said could remain there, as it was my lucky number), went on to win a staggering number of awards (leaving me to hold his jacket, car keys, bottle of water, and award upon award, as he clambered past all the knees in his path to the stage each time) – well done, Neil, for Charlie Brown!
Even Jojo was there (or as we all know him, Toto from The Wizard of Oz, and very well-behaved too).
The winners were as follows:
Artistic Contribution: Kyla Thorburn for choreography – My Fair Lady (CT Gilbert & Sullivan Society)
Technical excellence: Neil Leachman for sound and effects – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Costumes: Noel Pitout – The Wizard of Oz (HHDS)
Play set: Barrie Howard and Jane Philbrick – The Barretts of Wimpole Street (Fish Hoek Dramatic Society)
Musical set: Zanodean Cassiem – Blood Brothers (Carnivals of the Heart)
Animal performance: Orca as himself – The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish (Masque Theatre Players)
Jojo as Toto – The Wizard of Oz (HHDS)
Oliver Hindle as Flush – The Barretts of Wimpole Street (Fish Hoek Dramatic Society)
Max as Candy’s dog – Of Mice and Men (HHDS)
Rob Coutts as Snoopy – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Junior Performance:
Jordyn Linklater – Blood Brothers (Carnivals of the Heart)
Amy Reed – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Bryony Bosman – Grease the Musical (Masque Theatre Players)
Female newcomer in a play: Ilse van Niekerk – Pa, Maak vir my ‘* Vlieër, Pa (Milnerton Players)
Male newcomer in a play:
Zuko Katase – Of Mice and Men (HHDS)
Female newcomer in a musical: Megan Spencer – Shout! The Mod Musical (Pinelands Players)
Male newcomer in a musical: Leonard Moeng – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Support actress in a play:
Miranda Lewis – Master Class (MADS)
Support actress in a musical: Nicolette Fernandes – The Wizard of Oz (HHDS )
Support actor in a play: Anton Schäfer – Pa, Maak vir my ’* Vlieër, Pa (Milnerton Players)
Support actor in a musical: Graham Boxall – My Fair Lady (CT Gilbert & Sullivan Society)
Lead actress in a play: Bernie Jacobs – Master Class (MADS)
Lead actress in a musical: Jennifer Human – My Fair Lady (CT Gilbert & Sullivan Society)
Lead actor in a play:
James Skilton – The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish (Masque Theatre Players)
Lead actor in a musical: Nick Plummer – My Fair Lady (CT Gilbert & Sullivan Society)
Musical director: Neil Leachman – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Director of a musical: Neil Leachman – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Director of a play: Richard Higgs – Master Class (MADS)
Best musical: You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Best play: Master Class (MADS)
Certificates of excellence:
Nicky Enticott and Les Poole for props creation – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Constantiaberg Theatre Players)
Faeron Wheeler, Kim R2 and Daniel Enticott for ensemble acting – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Constantiaberg Theatre Players)
James Bone, Liam Walsh and Jared Pitout for ensemble acting – The Wizard of Oz (HHDS)
Nicolette Fernandes for female solo Red Shoe Blues – The Wizard of Oz (HHDSy)
The Servant Chorus for chorus work – My Fair Lady (CT Gilbert & Sullivan Society
Jennifer Human for female solo I could have danced all night – My Fair Lady (CT Gilbert & Sullivan Society)
Graham Boxall for male solo I’m getting married in the morning – My Fair Lady (CT Gilbert & Sullivan Society)
Michelle Galloway for female solo Tell me it’s not true – Blood Brothers (Carnivals of the Heart)
Kids Ensemble for ensemble work – Blood Brothers (Carnivals of the Heart)
Megan Spencer for female solo Son of a Preacher Man – Shout! The Mod Musical (Pinelands Players)
Laura Bosman, Melissa Sanderson, Megan Spencer, Christine Thonissen, Enyha Swanepoel for ensemble work – Shout! The Mod Musical (Pinelands Players)
Matthew de Klerk, Richard White, Georgia Bailey, Leonard Moeng, Amy Reed, Rob Coutts for ensemble work – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Rob Coutts for male solo Suppertime’ – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Richard White for male solo My blanket and me – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Leonard Moeng for Mime and Musical Timing – You’re a good man, Charlie Brown (Milnerton Players)
Duncan Reid and Bryony Bosman for duet Mooning’ – Grease the Musical (Masque Theatre Players)
Maileen Jamey for comedic interludes – Grease the Musical (Masque Theatre Players).
It was a glorious evening in celebration of amateur theatre, and a reminder to avail myself of every opportunity to attend what is on offer during 2017.
