By  Yolanda Mni

The Drama Club is more than just another extra-mural! It is a place where you belong. You feel like you are important. You also get to showcase your star quality. This year hasn’t been any different.

Our annual production was  “Faces and Places: Where Geography and Psychology Collide.” The show shared the message that love is all around, not just in one place, but in the many faces that become special to you. This show also made people realize that you can design and create the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make a dream a reality.

The directors were Francesca Gottini, Nicola McEwan, Loren Buchner, Andrea Siwak, Sibongile Pllatjies, Sinovuyo Mnyazi, Pulane Setlai, Kauthar Ravat, Anovuyo Selani, Asisipho Tsotsa and Yolanda Mni. The directors worked hard to ensure that their sections were the best they could be and they should be congratulated for their amazing work. Nicola McEwan has always been the director for the youngest grade and she has always enjoyed it. On the night of the production, if she glows with pride when her ‘”babies” are on stage, then you know that they have done their utmost best.

The cast for this production was small, but this gave us the opportunity to bond more. We’ve had a lot of memorable moments during rehearsals and performances. These include our catchphrase of “Speed and Spirit”, and the amazing acting skills of our main characters: Dannie, played by Pulane, and Francesca. When Nicola McEwan called Lucy Jordan Juicy Lordan we were in stitches. Ambesa Daniels  is commended  for being in character all the time:  From being a bull to being a boxer she managed to portray her character effectively. The Michael Jackson duo, Kauthar Ravat and Anovuyo Selani., might just be the next Queens of Pop. Sanelisiwe Klaas had everyone at hello with her performance in Jerry McGuire.  Lelethu Ntshangase joined the cast late -   she was singing with happiness after the Friday Team Building Afternoon when Mrs Gerber stopped her and told her to meet at school by 8am the next day.  She fitted right in and, on the night of the performance she made one of the audience members, who is from America, feel homeward bound when she sang “Walking in Memphis.” Who can forget the ever energetic and full of spirit Grade 9’s along with the backstage crew, who went beyond their job description when they decided to join the cast on stage?

Our prizegiving was held before the Theatre Dinner. The prizes included the “Too cool to finish the song” award to Mr Calitz. He went off stage before he finished singing on the Thursday night performance. “Mr Buchner” award to Loren Buchner: she has played a male character in every production and inter-house play. The “Best Spirit” award to the Grade 9s for always being the ray of sunshine in the cast and bringing everyone’s spirits up. The Theatre Dinner went well and we enjoyed our party after the performance for the last time as a cast.

Thank you, Mrs Stark, for taking care of the finances and for feeding the cast on the nights of the performances. Mr Calitz , thank you for sharing your music skills with all the soloists. We were honoured to have worked with a man of his caliber. To the cast,: Ladies, you were amazing. Remember that l will always belong with you and you will always belong with me. To the deputy, Kelly, thank you for taking care of all the behind-the-scenes work that people may overlook. You were always there to help me when I needed you help and always asking, “Can I help you with anything?”

However, despite the journey being wonderful, there was a down side to it. We had to say goodbye to Mrs Gerber. This was her official last Drama Production for now. I was privileged to have worked with Mrs Gerber over the past 4 years. Drama was another family for all the drama girls. Thank you, Mrs Gerber, for your gentle and caring guidance. In Drama you learn how to work in a team, organise and volunteer to do everything. Mrs Gerber has always taught us lessons which have become part of us. Thank you for sharing Daniel and Bailey with us, it was always wonderful to see them at rehearsals. They always put a smile on the girls’ faces. Drama will not be the same without you, but we will continue passing the lessons you passed to us to future drama girls.