Ten percent of ticket sales in Week 1 will be donated to The Theatre Benevolent Fund. This is supported by Essential Vibes, Rhumbelow Theatre, Ian von Memerty and the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Tickets are sold at R130.

A Handful of Keys - which returns for its 17th year. It started in November at Montecasino Theatre for a 9 week run before transferring to Cape Town Theatre on The Bay, January 19, and Durban’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on March 28.

On paper – the concept is so simple that it is hard to define the show’s enormous appeal. Two pianists (admittedly brilliant and superlatively versatile), seated (occasionally) behind 2 gleaming grand pianos, take the audience on a tour of the maestros, mistresses and magnificent music that the piano has inspired. The result is one of the most satisfying and complete evening’s entertainments imaginable. The sheer virtuosity of the playing is dazzling, the breakneck wit and interplay between the 2 gifted comedians brings the audience to hand-splitting ecstasy; the inventiveness and constant surprise of what should be one long ‘in-joke’ transcends the limitations of the concept until, as one early reviewer wrote, “Act Two is spent hovering on the brink of a standing ovation, which when it arrives is tumultuous”.

The story of how this show opened in a 160-seater theatre in 1994, with 94 advance bookings, and ending up selling out 1000 seat theatres has become part of South African theatre history. Originally starring its creators Bryan Schimmel and Ian von Memerty (Strictly Come Dancing and SA’s Got Talent), it went on to claim 9 awards, and in its first 300 shows, played to in excess of 100n000 people. In 2001 Roelof Colyn scored a massive hit when he joined the show alongside Ian von Memerty for another consistent series of sold out shows, and another 100 000 people streamed into the theatre. Another triumphant tour with Roelof and Jeremy Quickfall in 2005/6 kept the show’s momentum going and then in 2008 the musical wunderkind Jonathan Roxmouth partnered with Roelof, giving this evergreen show an injection of energy and sparkle that took the show past its 1000th performance with over 320 000 delighted patrons.


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Phone or e-mail Roland for more information:
H 031 205 7602
Cell 082 499 8636
E-mail roland@stansell.za.net
Visit www.rhumbelow.za.net