"BOSMAN IN THE GALLOWS"
Directed by Bets Basson
Compiled and performed by Barbie Meyer
When: Friday 1st August & Saturday 2nd August 2014
Where: Yellowwood, 1 Shafton Rd, Howick.
Time: 6.00p.m. for 6.30p.m.
Tickets: R100p.p. includes show, soup & bread (Cash bar available)
Bookings: (essential as space is limited) 033 330 2461 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Barbie Meyer, a self confessed and very obvious lover of Herman Charles Bosman's work, tackles her sixth play based on this infamous author's work. She has performed her one woman shows all over South Africa from cities, one horse towns to the Grahamstown Festival and others. "You cannot believe where lovers of Bosman's stories live and hide out – they're everywhere!" she laughs.
This time she comes 'home' to Howick.
Her new play is taken from his iconic book entitled "Cold Stone Jug". This book's rise to classic status has been unstoppable, and is now widely considered the founding text of all South African prison writings.
We asked Barbie what we could expect from this new show:
"Expect to learn a little prison slang...or 'colourful, earthy conversation' as Bosman calls it (although I know my mom would call it be a few other names!). At the age of 21 Bosman was sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his stepbrother. He claimed he thought his brother was an intruder although it was generally conceded that he did it in a fit of rage (sounds very like a modern day case does it not?!)
Bosman only ended up serving 4 and a half years and this book is a semi-autobiographical book of these experiences: powerful, witty, courageous and in places – just darn funny!
One ends up laughing at the pure humanness of the whole situation – it's a kind of a dark humour – you laugh when you really know you shouldn't. It's filled with pathos and power. I have to admit that I did sneak an Oom Schalk Story in at the end of this play – how could I possibly resist?"
Barbie has entitled the new show: "Bosman in the Gallows'.
"What a challenge it's been", she says, "to condense this incredible book into a theatrical piece fit for human consumption! It's one of my most favourite books in the world – and often when something is that close to you – it can be a real test to try to capture the essence of the book in one show. What on earth does one leave out?! I have written draft upon draft, cut things out and re-added them only to remove them later. I think that this final script takes a little of his journey all along: from the day he arrived in the holding cell to the day he klaared out. I have endeavoured to capture his hilarity along with a couple of poignant more sobering experiences that obviously make prison what it is – hard."
This is a book filled with pathos and grit and yet always written with his unfailing humour and unm istakable high courage and wit.
Barbie Meyer (nee Burczak) – is originally a Howick lass. She and her family moved up to the Midlands when she was 12 years old.
She completed high school at Howick High. Her favourite subjects were English and Art. Mrs Elrick was the art teacher then and Barbie just adored both her and the subject. She also fondly remembers Mr Langley's biology lessons.
'I wasn't wildly sporty so the thing that kept me sane throughout my schooling was being part of the School's extraordinary Choir and of course taking part in the School's now legendary annual musicals. Mrs Fotheringham was at the helm then. She was brilliant and although we were quite terrified of her at times, she fanned the flame for my love of drama and performance.'
Barbie went on to study English and History of Art and her Speech & Drama Licentiate (Cum laude).
She now both performs countrywide herself as well as teaches Drama and Acting from her studio in Margate.
Her mom, brother and sisters still live in and around 'Maritzburg and Howick:
Candy Wise, runs and owns the delightful Rosehurst in Pietermaritzburg. Flowers From Howick is run and owned by her sister Helena Davis, and Zofia Mack is married to a forester and has six wonderful children – they reside in Merrivale. Antoni, her brother, owns and runs Euroweld in Merrivale.
She and husband, Marke a sculptor and photographer, live in Uvongo on the South Coast.
"I am so looking forward to performing at Yellowwood and meeting new and old friends and other Bosman lovers."
www.barbiemeyer.com
Tel: 039 3157225
Cell: 082 496 3545