Lara Foot’s highly-acclaimed, award-winning play, The Inconvenience of Wings, returns to the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio, from 13 February to 3 March.
The production transfers to the Baxter, following a short season at the Theatre on the Bay, from 30 January to 10 February.
Since its premiere in 2016 The Inconvenience of Wings has received sold-out success at the National Arts Festival, the Baxter and the Market Theatre, amassing five-star reviews including, most recently, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Foot, the 2016 National Arts Festival Featured Artist and a former Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre winner, has assembled a stellar cast comprising Jennifer Steyn, Andrew Buckland and Mncedisi Shabangu and creative team.
In 2017 the play received the coveted Fleur du Cap awards for Best Director (Foot), Best Actor (Andrew Buckland) and Best Actress (Jennifer Steyn) who, the British Theatre Guide notes, “delivers an unforgettable performance”.
The media and audiences raved about the production. British Theatre Guide described it as “a beautifully modulated work … should not be missed”, while Edinburgh Guide called it a “magnificent piece of work” and “Through the virtuosity of the writer and the mastery of the performers, this production cannot go unwatched … Steyn, Buckland and Shabangu are breathtaking.”
John Maytham from Cape Talk gave it a glowing thumbs up, saying, “If there is a better piece of theatre at the Festival, please lead me to it … It is a piece that no serious theatre lover should miss … Be there, and tot up the number of awards for which it will be nominated, most of which it will win. It’s that good.” Steve Kretzmann from Critter was equally encouraging referring to it as “… masterful direction” and “… the cast’sa acutely magnificent performance … an engrossing, consummate performance…”
Further praise came from Tony Jackman for the Daily Maverick who said, “Again, I take my hat off to Foot. She gets it, she truly, deeply, gets it across in this most excellent play … once you get into the meat of the story it grips you and takes you all the way.” Broadwayworld.com said, “The Inconvenience of Wings a Triumph for Lara Foot … sophisticated and literate … richly textured.”
The play is, at its heart, a love story, which make for compelling viewing with burning contemporary themes such as bi-polar disorder and compulsion and its devastating effect on the family. It cuts close to the bone for anyone who has suffered mental illness themselves, or has lived with someone who is afflicted.
Set in a landscape of memory and dreams, The Inconvenience of Wings, tackles the issues of friendship, dysfunction, addiction and angels. Sara (Steyn) has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder; she is compulsive, alive and hates women who know how to make cupcakes. Paul (Buckland), her husband, is on a mission to find a cure for her afflictions and Professor James (Shabangu) quietly tries to save Paul from the inconvenience of his wings.
This powerful and poignant drama was inspired by author Abraham J Twerski`s book Addictive Thinking that examines the notion of compulsion, addiction, denial and abuse of self as well as conversations on bipolar disorder that Foot had with celebrated psychiatrist Dr Sean Baumann. It was further stirred by her father who has suffered from dementia for more than a decade.
Set design is by Patrick Curtis, lighting design by Mannie Manim, with costumes by Birrie le Roux, composition by Philip Miller and choreography by Grant van Ster.
Booking for The Inconvenience of Wings at Theatre on The Bay, from 30 January to 10 February, is through Computicket or any Shoprite Checkers outlet, online at www.computicket.com or call 0861 915 8000.
Booking for The Inconvenience of Wings at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from 13 February to 3 March, at 7.30pm is through Webtickets on 086 111 0005, online at www.webtickets.co.za or at selected Pick n Pay outlets. There is an Early Bird Special available for the Baxter season of R128 for the first three performances.
For discounted school or group block bookings, fundraisers or charities contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or e-mail sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or e-mail her at carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za
A three-minute trailer is available on Facebook (http://bit.ly/2DjxsKc) and on YouTube (http://bit.ly/2mLuyHc)
