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Fahiem Stellenboom
The hilarious one-hander, A Vegan Killed my Marriage, starring funny man, Aaron Mcilroy, written and directed by the multi award winning, Craig Freimond, comes to the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from 19 September to 8 October 2023, at 8pm with Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
Mcilroy, well known for his performance as the lunatic father, Mr Milton, in the Spud movie franchise, plays James, a red-blooded, meat-eating South African male. He is fully aware of the consistent concerns about the meat industry’s role in the impending climate catastrophe.
Over the years, he has done his best to studiously evade and ignore such concerns, until a work trip creates an unexpected double whammy, and he is shaken out of his comfort zone. Out of the blue, he becomes a vegetarian, not realising how unwelcome this change and his newfound fanaticism will be in his meat-eating home. The skirmishes at home escalate into a full-blown war. Could it be a midlife crisis? James, who only months before, had been the king of the braai, has had a change of heart and now demands an entirely meat-free home.
Winner of a Bronze Ovation Award at this year’s National Arts Festival in Makhanda (Grahamstown), the comical and highly entertaining solo performance marks Mcilroy’s debut at The Baxter, after many years.
With a string of stage blockbusters under his belt in both the public and corporate entertainment circuits, the Durban-based actor is regarded as one of South Africa’s most popular entertainers. He has received acclaim for his award-winning satires, The Loser, co-written and directed by Susan Monteregge, The Golfer, co-written and directed by Steven Stead and ADHD, co-written and directed by Patrick Kenny.
“I grew up in the entertainment industry. My father was a member of the popular Irish band, the Blarney Brothers,” says Mcilroy. “I love music, but I really wanted to be a serious actor and even studied drama at university. However, every time I performed something vaguely dramatic, my lecturers would fall off their chairs. After much humiliation I realised that the only way I was going to make some cash in this industry was to embrace my funny bone!”
Recent productions include Classical Comedy, staring the Durban City Orchestra, as well as Family Business, both directed by Darren King and staged at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban.
Craig Freimond’s prolific career spans that of writer and director in theatre, television and film. He is no stranger to The Baxter. In 2014 he directed the triple Naledi award-winning, Death of a Colonialist by Greg Latter, which won Best Production, Best Actor for the late Jamie Bartlett and Best Director.
Initially, he worked as a theatre director, directing more than 20 stage productions. His play, The King of Laughter, won three Naledi awards, including Best New Play, Best Director and Best-Supporting Actor.
Craig worked on several television comedy series such as Not Quite Friday Night and the sitcom Scoop Schoombie. Rhythm City and Sorted.
His film credits as writer and director include Gums & Noses, which was adapted from his play of the same name and, which won the Apollo Film Festival award for best feature film; Material, which had a hugely successful theatrical run and won five 2013 SAFTA awards; Beyond the River, nominated for several awards and has played at festivals across the globe; Vaya, which he co-wrote, directed by Akin Omotoso, and which played at Toronto, Berlin and many other big festivals, garnering several awards and New Material, the sequel to his hit film, Material.
A Vegan Killed my Marriage runs from 19 September to 8 October at 8pm with 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Ticket prices are R150 (Tuesdays and Saturday matinees), R165 (seniors, students and block bookings of 10 or more) and R185 (full price). Booking is through Webtickets (www.webtickets.co.za) online or at Pick n Pay stores.