By Buffalo City Reporter
11 April 2008

THE Guild Theatre will be brightening up East Londoners' nights with sizzling shows ranging from musicals to dances during the months of April and May.

Kicking off its autumn acts is the Hudson Park High School production of Hot Mikado, a musical, running from Monday, 21 April to Saturday, 26 April. "This is a sizzling musical in a vibrant 1940s style, updating the Gilbert and Sullivan classic musical The Mikado," says the manager of the Guild Theatre, Zane Flanagan.

To enjoy the musical, adults pay R40, pensioners R30 and students and learners R20. Fast on its heels come the city's young beauties as they take part in the Miss Teeny D, Little Miss D and the Junior Model of the Year beauty pageants on Saturday, 3 May.

On Tuesday, 13 May, musicals return to the Guild as Centrestage presents The Folk Lords. "This time Centrestage unveils a brand new ensemble of talented musicians who pay tribute to the lords of folk."

The Folk Lords band is headed by Jeffery's Bay/St Francis Bay music legend Sam Mienny, along with Neil Thompson, Roger Gilson, John Dickin and Alan Kozak.

Thereafter it is the turn of the laugh-out-loud, award-winning piano show, A Handful of Keys, directed by Ian von Memerty.

"This hilarious show will feature some dazzling new material. These two men [Roelof Colyn and Jonathan Roxmouth] at the grand pianos give a dazzling display of pianistic virtuosity and hilarious impersonation. A performance of constant surprise, intelligence and wit, with music that ranges from the great classic masters of Bach and Beethoven, to kings of soul Ray Charles and Fats Waller," Flanagan says, adding that this is a completely South African show of an international standard.

A Handful of Keys is on Wednesday, 21 May, Friday, 23 May and Saturday, 24 May. Tickets are R80.

Later that month, on Thursday, 29 May and Friday, 30 May, East Londoners will have a chance to join the rest of South African in paying tribute to one of the greatest dancers ever, on Rudolf Nureyev's 70th anniversary.

"We will host the Stars of the Ballet Moscow; and there will be two acts for all to enjoy. Act one of the programme includes a documentary film of Nureyev's life, together with scenes from La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Les Sylphides and The Dying Swan, performed by dancers from the Stars of the Ballet Moscow," Flanagan explains.

Act two is the ballet Raymonda by Alexander Glazunov, featuring international acclaimed prima ballerina Marina Rzhannikova, from the Moscow State Classical Ballet.

For more information on these shows, contact the Guild Theatre on 043 743 0704.