The Sunday Mail
Takudzwa Chihambakwe Leisure Correspondent
“We are an amateur drama society hence nobody does this for remuneration. It’s all just for the love of theatre. Since 1931 we have been using this principle and it has been working for us. We would love to pay the cast and crew but that would mean people will not afford tickets to the shows.”
REPS Theatre has been the place to be in recent weeks for theatre lovers.
The stories joint hosted the classical musical “Phantom of the Opera”, and the production showed the remarkable depth of talent in Zimbabwe.
Like the recently staged “Much Ado About Nothing”, the technical execution, more than anything else, proved to be the production’s biggest strength.
Synchronisation of a live band, the cast, good light and stage work and the smashing chandeliers made for an explosive performance. Deservedly, the cast and crew of 54 got a standing ovation at curtains.
It was clear that a lot of practice had been invested in the production and this ranks as one of the best musicals delivered by a local cast of amateurs in Zimbabwe.
It is quite hard to believe that the cast participated not for financial gain but for the love of theatre.
This has been the Reps Theatre way since the 1930s and audiences will surely welcome more of it this year and in coming ones.
There was great use of props throughout the show, which gave the audience a feel of the 1980s when the production first opened in London’s West End.
Much credit goes to director Sue Bolt for such an outstanding show, as well as to set designer PJ Smyth, who was also part of the cast.
“We called for auditions and we selected the cast . . . We rehearsed for eight weeks before staging the production. It has been a great project and the team has just been phenomenal to work with over the past couple of days,” said Smyth.
“We are an amateur drama society hence nobody does this for remuneration. It’s all just for the love of theatre. Since 1931 we have been using this principle and it has been working for us. We would love to pay the cast and crew but that would mean people will not afford tickets to the shows.”
David Bvumbe, who played the Phantom, said: “It’s been a challenging role to play but fun as well. Getting into this character was at first daunting but with more time we spent in rehearsal, things started to flow.”
“The Phantom of the Opera” is a musical act with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart with additions from Richard Stilgoe.
Webber and Stilgoe also wrote the musical’s book based on the French novel “Le Fantôme de l’Opéra” by Gaston Leroux.
The plot revolves around a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious, disfigured musical genius.
