Date: 02 March 2011
Article: Madoda Ntul
Picture: Mashabela Seshoka
When the vault opens, where will you be?
G-Day is coming and you must choose….
G-Day is coming and you must choose….
Blazing onto the Johannesburg stage in March is the ground-breaking original rock musical, Streets of Gold – The Musical, presented by AngloGold Ashanti in association with the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City Casino, for 10 performances only from Thursday, 24 March to Sunday, 3 April 2011.
Streets of Gold tells the rousing story of a fight for freedom and love in a world choked by corruption and greed.
Beautiful and brooding Cassandra (Samantha Peo) has fled her downtown lair and is on the run from the enraged Prefect Flora von Higgins (Fiona Ramsay), a powerful leader of the Global Union of Nations (GUN). Perched on the Global Union’s Most Wanted List, Cassandra has swiped the precious gold bracelet-key from out under the Prefect’s nose after her very public and botched attempt to claim the world’s long lost gold. To make matters worse, even if the pesky rebel can be tracked down and the key recovered, Flora has triggered the vault's self-destruct countdown. Jabulani Bond (Tumisho Masha) is tasked with return the key and restoring some of her wounded pride. While holding out hope that her mischievous daughter Lily (Carmen Pretorius) will defect from the Gold Liberation Front (GLF), Flora plots her next move with Defense Minister - Moro (Mark Richardson), a man with a salacious appetite for gold. He in turn enlists the wiles of the treacherous temptress Sheba (Amor Vittone). Cassandra evades capture and reaches The GLF leader Viddy Civille (Shaun V). Whether their meeting is destined to change their lives or the world is up to the skillful Ngudu 9’s (Phumi MnCayi) rolling of the dice.
Eight of South Africa’s most revered triple threat talents will bring these exciting characters to life. The all-star cast was attracted to the production by the challenge of performing in a rare original South African musical with a bold new take on the genre.
With its graphic novel and film noir inspiration, Streets of Gold is vibrant with design; from award winning gold jewellery and accessory design to haute couture costume, hair and make-up creations and fascinating animation. The show will feature the AuDITIONS Urban Tribes gold jewellery collection and out-of-another-world costume design by fashion designer Suzaan Heyns.
Barbed satire written by Alan Swerdlow with music composed by Jon Savage and Jane Breetzke of Cassette, Streets of Gold represents a unique local identity, but in a parallel reality. The musical score is grounded in rock which draws on multiple influences from alternative, traditional and contemporary pop to kwaito, hip-hop and Latin. Arranged by musical director Bryan Schimmel, the songs have each been developed with the characters and collective cast in mind and will be played live by a seven-piece band. Big rock guitar and Cassette’s signature keyboard sound threads through the music from beginning to end.
Still reeling from the recent global recession, Streets of Gold - The Musical will have audiences pondering, chuckling and cheering. As befits good musical theatre, this satire pokes fun at politicians and plays on the ever-present tension between political institutions and agents of change. Set in a parallel universe, this Johannesburg may look strangely familiar but when it comes to jockeying and politicking, the city at the heart of Streets of Gold is not so different from the Johannesburg that exists in our world.
Streets of Gold-The Musical offers a premium seat at the theatre - a haute couture jewellery and fashion show and a heart pounding rock concert seamlessly woven into a single delightful performance.
For more information log onto www.streetsofgoldmusical.com
View the promotional music video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXmr-6x82aM
The musical runs from Thursday, 24th March until Sunday 3 April 2011 at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City Casino and bookings can be made through Computicket at www.computicket.com or 083 915 8000.
Ticket prices range from R125 - R175
