David Kramer brings Ver in die wêreld Kittie to new theatre complex, Die Blik

Image by Terry Levin

Introducing the show Ver in die wêreld Kittie, Fili van Zyl shared how the venue, which opened on 27 July 2024, saw a group of illegal street vendors become an integral part of the commercial market where farmers have traded fresh produce for 300 years.

The beautiful facility has succeeded in bringing together the diverse population of Cape Town in a joint venture and the erstwhile ‘illegal’ vendors are now respected wholesalers and partners in the Cape Town Market project.

Historically, Cape Town has always been established as a trading post for fresh produce and many of the informal-turned-formal vendor businesses are family groups that are second or third generation family businesses, a special legacy that is part of the culture of Cape Town.

Van Zyl shares with the audience that the greater vision for the project, still under wraps, is to weave the arts into business, of which the Blik Theatre complex is just the start.

Die Blik is a beacon and perfect venue for the latest work by the beloved custodian of Cape musical artform, David Kramer.

Ver in die wêreld Kittie

The award-winning musical follows the intertwined stories told in Kramer’s signature musical genres - from traditional Afrikaans folk songs played on a ramkie “blik” guitar on the Pessach family farm in the Western Cape’s Worcester, to the nightlife of Cape Town’s District 6, Johannesburg and New York's R&B Jazz clubs, from London’s BBC radio and a Europe on the brink of war, to Hollywood’s 1950’s folk scene, to the finale which ultimately sees the main character embark on her own hero's journey.

The story is told by the main character, Kittie Jaftha, played by well-known TV personality and songstress Rushney Ferguson (Kelders Van Geheime; Arendsvlei), and follows the musical destinies of three characters - Josef, the note-perfect crooner played by André Terblanché (André Terblanché in Konsert; Die Boland Moorde); Koos Heunigbek, played by Dean Balie (Nêrens Noordkaap; Kat and the Kings), who generated spontaneous applause at every opportunity; and Jenny Stead’s Rosa de Miranda (The Promise on Stage; The Rocky Horror Show), who can also turn any tune into a party.

1952. Doris Day and Frankie Laine have an international hit with the song "Sugarbush," which is purportedly written by Josef Marais. In the 1950s, Josef and his wife Rosa rode the wave of their success in America as a folk singing duo. Known as Marais and Miranda they became known for singing Afrikaans songs translated into English by Josef. Their records were played on radio stations across America. However, back in the Boland, Kittie Jaftha doesn't celebrate their success. She feels betrayed and believes these songs don't belong to Marais and Miranda. She knows that Josef heard these songs from Koos Heuningbek, who works on his father's farm.

The music by Kramer, written in Afrikaans with English subtitles and projected as part of the noteworthy set design, is artfully done. The translations are beautiful in themselves, but the Afrikaans is some of the most lyrical rhyming gedigte you will ever hear and must go down as one of David Kramer’s most accomplished works.

Although there is not as much dancing as some of his other productions, (actually, there is none), the story and staging tick all the boxes of humour, pathos, broad cultural relevance and top notch musicality in a venue, that I overheard Ou Dawid himself say, has some of the best sound of any venue he has ever played.

A special mention must go to the three maestros who provide the live backing throughout the performance, violinist Kerryn Torrance, pianist Ivan Potts on piano and Nick Turner on percussion, holding it all together.

With great ambience, decor, lighting, signage and a vibe which makes you want to stay to network and kuier with Cape Town’s cool theatrical aficionados, the Blik looks set to be the perfectly located and equipped entertainment and events venues in the city.

Responses to the production include:

• "Ver in die wêreld Kittie is ’n musiekspel met aangrypende musiek en ’n storie wat sy gehoor oorrompel." - Laetitia Pople, Die Burger
  
• "You will never listen to Suikerbossie again in the same frame of mind.” - Marianne Thamm, Daily Maverick
  
• "Daar is nie ’n vals noot of ’n skeeftrap in die produksie nie." - Marchelle van Zyl, Die Krit
  
• "a beautifully crafted nugget of South African music history… Rushney Ferguson as Kittie brings in an achingly elegiac, nuanced portrait… Dean Balie is extraordinary as Koos….Jenny Stead is magic as Rosa….André Terblanché is phenomenal…It is a piece of theatre with a heart and soul.” - Robyn Cohen, The Cape Robyn
  
• “A real masterpiece musical theatre production." - Ismail Mahomed, Director at Centre for Creative Arts, University KZN

The show runs until 11 August. Book at Webtickets. For more information about The Blik visit theblik.co.za.