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Beverley Brommert
Given the aplomb with which Sandi Dlangalala fills the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the current production of MY FAIR LADY, it comes as no surprise to learn that this talented performer became aware at an early age of the imperative to entertain an audience.
"I was the class clown," he chuckles. "I always wanted to make my schoolmates laugh, and I would improvise, or sometimes imitate things I'd seen on TV in the late 1990s. I was inspired by the likes of Will Smith and Jim Carrey."
The stellar dancing of Michael Jackson also appealed to him as something worthy of emulation, and it was for dance and body movement rather than drama that he felt a genuine affinity. This instinctive attraction was promoted and honed by the training he received while studying at Rhodes University in the Drama Department.
Dlangalala is warm in his praise for Andrew Buckland, who mentored him at Rhodes. A highly respected veteran of physical theatre, Buckland was generous in sharing his expertise and techniques with the student whose enthusiastic commitment made the exercise worthwhile.
"Andrew must have been in his late fifties at that time, but he had the stamina of a twenty-year-old and outshone us all," he recalls.
"Together with Juanita Finestone-Praeg, another lecturer in the department, he opened up a whole new world for me - not just physical theatre, but also contemporary performance and choreography, which I chose in my Honours year. "
Thanks to them, as they continued to build on the foundation laid by his drama teacher in high school ( Ron Barbour), he realised the infinite potential of body language as a tool of expression in performance.
On the subject of his current role as Freddy, he says he auditioned for the part because he felt he might be "a good fit for it", and had "an itch" to try a more classical style. "I also majored in classical singing, but had not yet had the opportunity to perform."
There was no shortage of takers for the coveted role in Johannesburg, where he is based at present, but his success has brought him to Cape Town's Artscape Opera House, to fulfil a dream he had harboured for some time.
While his age and looks are ideal for the part, Dlangalala admits it was no easy matter mastering the demands of what he calls "the most difficult song of the whole show": ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE.
He explains, " The actor has to paint a story in it, but should not be too performative in bringing it to life. He has to give it colour, and avoid monotony in its simple phrasing...unlike the witty near-recitative of Higgins, it's neither wordy nor fast. Kevin Kraak, the show's musical director, was a great help to me in achieving what was required."
Fortunately, as he remarks, the song suits his voice (recently transitioned from baritone to tenor), and it is well within the scope of his comfort range.
Looking ahead to 2025, Dlangalala is anticipating a busy time, with the Johannesburg run of MY FAIR LADY lasting until mid-February, before transferring to Durban. Thereafter he will be performing at the Market Theatre in Jo'burg with a reprise of SOPHIATOWN, one of his favourites.
With his proficiency and zest for the performing arts, he appears set for a bright future.
MY FAIR LADY is onstage at the Artscape Opera House until 12 January 2025, whereafter it transfer to The Teatro, Montecasino in Joburg from 25 January to 2 March 2025 and The Playhouse in Durban from 8 to 16 March 2025. Tickets can be booked online through Webtickets.