.png)
Theatre Scene Cape Town
Louis Viljoen’s new play THE SIN DRINKERS premiered at the Baxter Theatre’s Masambe on 23 April 2024, and kept audiences on the edge of their seats with characters in search of redemption. It left John Dobson so enthralled that he is bringing the play along for a performance on 5 July 2024 as part of his weekend takeover of the Karoo Art Hotel!
Award winning writer and director Louis Viljoen re-unites with broadcasting legend John Maytham and acclaimed actor Emma Kotze to tell a story of broken people and the dark truths that slither under their skins.
The story that unfolds concerns Frank (John Maytham), a practiced booze-hound and finder of people, who tracks down his late daughter’s chillingly guarded friend, Theresa (Emma Kotze), to find questions to answers that he has tried (and failed) to silence with drink. What ensues is a test of wills and alcohol aptitude as they meet each other sin-for-sin and drink-for-drink in trying to figure out if indifferent strangers can unburden each other of their ills. It has been described as akin to a confessional, where whiskey temporarily soothes souls and loosens tongues, in a stand-off of wills. Set in a noir style of theatre, this darkly comic drama reflects on the murky depths of humanity against the ‘pure’ set designed by Kieran McGregor.
Audiences and critics alike have praised THE SIN DRINKERS:
“‘A vivid piece of confrontational theatre … Maytham and Kotze's ensemble is impeccable as they deftly navigate the shift in tone and emotional intensity of their extended conversation… Watching the evolution of this drama is akin to viewing the cut-and-thrust of a fencing match…” - Beverley Brommert (Theatre Scene Cape Town)
“Viljoen… pulls you to the deepest darkest part of humanity, but like an addict who can’t resist the next sip or puff, you always go back for more.” – Mariana Malan (Netwerk24)
“I love the brutal force of Viljoen’s frequently violent language, his ability to turn poetry into weapons that leave a sting… cleverly crafted snatches of dialogue bounced back and forth with a deliberate, metronomic rhythm… Viljoen’s heightened language and the charged atmosphere it creates alter what we’re observing into a form of ritual…” - Keith Bain (Daily Maverik)
“Dark, twisted and uncomfortable. John Maytham and Emma Kotze are never less than riveting” - Rebecca Davis (Investigative Journalist)
“… be traumatised while simultaneously being thrilled by a thing of beauty… it’s a play that brims with exceptional dialogue from first line to last, delivered in Viljoen’s distinctive directorial style… the imagery brought vividly to life." - Bianca Coleman (Eat, Play, Drink)
“… darkly beguiling drama… a poignant cautionary tale… superb script, performances, direction and design… Viljoen’s writing is urgent, reeking with pain in this intensely beautiful play of two damaged people… superb performances by Maytham and Kotze.” - Robyn Cohen (The Cape Robyn)
“I love seeing Louis Viljoen’s work ... It’s niche and funny and vulgar and strange and entertaining and you gasp and turn your head to the side every now and then but the text has you in a headlock until the end when you exhale … wonderful weirdness.” Tankiso Mamabolo (Singer, Songwriter and Performer)
The haunting tale at the centre of Frank and Theresa’s encounter in THE SIN DRINKERS may not be for the marginally sensitive or the easily offended, but it promises to move and surprise you as they reveal their dark and dangerous secrets. Will their journey lead them to a point of redemption or are they forever doomed to just pour another drink to soothe their scarred souls?
THE SIN DRINKERS will be onstage at the Karoo Art Hotel on 5 July 2024 as part of John Dobson’s weekend takeover. It carries an age restriction of 18 for explicit language and scenes of a sexual nature. Tickets are available online through Quicket.
Production: The Sin Drinkers
Written and directed by Louis Viljoen
Performed by John Maytham and Emma Kotze
Designed by Kieran McGregor
Photos and Graphics by Barbara Loots
Dates: 5 July 2024
Venue: Karoo Art Hotel
Tickets: R105
Bookings: Quicket
Age Restriction: No Under 18 (Explicit Language, Strong Sexual Content)
Comments