November 7, 2007
By George Matlala
THE National Children's Theatre has turned its attention to Sleeping Beauty, the latest classic fairytale it has masterfully turned into a stage play.
Directed by Joyce Levinsohn, the play tells the story of a princess who falls under the spell of her wicked fairy godmother and can only be saved by the kiss of a prince. It runs from Monday, 12 November to Saturday, 22 December.
Levinsohn, an award-winning director, says the fairytale teaches children kindness and care. "Children will learn that goodness and kindness are better than evil," she notes.
Hard work and dreaming high are also among the lessons drawn from the play. "When you are a young person you must dream and believe in yourself, and also work hard to achieve your dreams."
Music, humour and wit drive the show. Saranti Reeders, the former pianist on the hit Afrikaans television music show Liriekeraai, directs the music. Coupled with beautiful costumes and sets, it helps the cast transport the audience into a fantasy world.
"It is a very traditional fairyland set," Levinsohn says.
Written by French author Charles Perrault in 1697, Levinsohn says she stuck to the original storyline and just added modern songs. In the original, at her christening, a wicked fairy godmother casts a spell on the princess. As a teenager, she will prick her finger and die.
A good fairy comes to the rescue, however, watering down the spell. Instead, she will fall asleep for a hundred years, to be woken by a kiss from a handsome prince.
Urging parents to take their children to see the play, Levinsohn notes that it "is a wonderful way of spending time with your kids. We have gone out of our way to make this a wonderful Christmas show."
Sleeping Beauty opens at the National Children's Theatre in Parktown on Monday, 12 November and runs until Saturday, 22 December.
During government school terms, performances are on weekdays at 9am and 10.30am and on Saturdays at 10.30am and 2.30pm. During government school holidays, performances are at 10am and 2.30pm, from Monday to Saturday.
Tickets are R55 for children and R65 for adults. Block bookings and specials are available for schools, groups and birthday parties.
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