Review: The Golden Girls on stage in South Africa 2024 is fun fun fun, upbeat, inspiring and uplifting.

The Golden Girls on stage, Cape Town, 2024 is loads of fun and the good news is that the run has been extended. It was scheduled to run until June 1 but two extra shows have been added – June 7 and 8 at 7.30. Wayne Ronné adapted four episodes from the 80s TV series and he is in the director’s seat. A long-time fan of the TV series, he brings his love and passion for the Golden Girls to production which he tags as a celebration. In an interview, he says: “I remember watching The Golden Girls when I was growing up. It was the staple sitcom in my household, and it always reminded me of my grandmother. Rose was my favourite as she was so naïve, and her head was full of air in her head. As an adult, I am definitely a Dorothy. My sarcasm is on-point.” https://thecaperobyn.co.za/stage-interview-fun-and-entertaining-tribute-to-the-golden-girls-south-africa-2024/

This production is a homage – an evocation of an altar of adoration to the Golden Girls. The series was on from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. There were 180 half-hour episodes; seven seasons all up. The Golden Girls were Blanche Devereux (played by Rue McClanahan), Rose Nylan (Betty White), Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) and Sophia, Dorothy’s 80-year-old ma (Estelle Getty).

The cast of 12 people at the Masque is made up by the four Golden Girls (Gwendolen Ward, Tanya Smith, Katherine Fillmore and Kerith Coulson), two narrators (Lisa Fontaine-Rainen and Bridget-Ann Mullins) and six others who play various extra roles in the selected episodes.

Gwendolen Ward, Tanya Smith, Katherine Fillmore and Kerith Coulson channel the essence of the golden girls, nailing the expressions, intonation and quirks of each. It is an impressively polished ensemble, with terrific comedic timing, riffing off the energy, pathos, warmth, mirth of the series. They are all terrific but Kerith Coulson as Sophia steals the show- as did the character in the original TV series.  I loved the numerous costume changes and effort that has gone into dressing this production.

There is a copious amounts of furniture and props – with stage hands clumping on and off the stage, shifting the paraphernalia. At first, one thinks – “what is going on – with this activity” but it is part of the fun. It is apparently meant to be busy – reminiscent of the community theatre/amateur sector, with low budgets. Well, that is my interpretation of the mayhem.  I enjoyed how the community theatre/AmdDram aesthetic is embraced unashamedly with no attempt to conceal set changes behind hydraulics. It’s an embrace of the “amateur”. It’s not seamless and the hilarity is watching the goings on and so does the cast laughing with bemused expressions, at the stage hands, as they hustle on and off stage.

The polished ensemble of Golden Girls is accompanied by the auxiliary of actors, with a mash-up of accents and characterisations. The two narrators, Lisa Fontaine-Rainen and Bridget-Ann Mullins provide narrative fillers/explanations and insights into the actresses who played the Golden Girls. They tell us for example that “each of the four stars received an Emmy Award, making it one of only four sitcoms in the award’s history to achieve this” and that other awards include a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comply Series – awarded twice. Sure, this info is all available on Wikipedia but hearing it on stage, with this evocation of the series makes it special. The narrators are also fun, but I feel that their shticks are too long. There is too much haranguing over who is first or 2^nd narrator.

In terms of length, I feel that the production is too long. The first half was one hour 25 minutes – when I saw it at the opening. Having said that, the Golden Girls on stage in South Africa 2024 is fun fun fun – dressed with beautiful clothes, hair and madcap sets and props. It is upbeat, inspiring and uplifting. The finale is fabulous – with everyone dancing to the theme song, Thank You Being a Friend. Wait and watch until the end. Don’t leave the theatre. This production is a celebration and homage to friendship amongst mature women. The friendship between a mother and daughter (Sophia and Dorothy) is beautifully conveyed. Bravo to Wayne Ronné and his Golden Girls and the team for bringing us this wonderfully entertaining production.

✳ Featured image: Jarred Vaughan, Kerith Coulson, Gwendolen Ward, Tanya Smith and Katherine Fillmore, The Golden Girls,- Masque 2024. Photo by Faeron Wheeler. Images supplied. Related coverage: https://thecaperobyn.co.za/stage-interview-fun-and-entertaining-tribute-to-the-golden-girls-south-africa-2024/’