Stage interview: Fun and entertaining tribute to The Golden Girls, South Africa 2024

Wayne Ronné has adapted and is directing four episodes from the 80s TV series, The Golden Girls, for the stage, from May 24 to June 1, 2024 at the Masque in Muizenberg, Cape Town. The Masque production is new and is a homage by Ronné, a celebration of the much-loved series, underscored by its stirring theme song, Thank You Being a Friend. The production stars Gwendolen Ward, Tanya Smith, Katherine Fillmore and Kerith Coulson. Two narrators, Lisa Fontaine-Rainen and Bridget-Ann Mullins will fill in the story and plot lines so those who are not familiar with the series, will easily be able to follow the fun and memories on stage. Ronné provides insights:

TCR: This is the first time that the Golden Girls is being adapted for the stage in South Africa?

Wayne Ronné: Yes, this is the first stage adaptation of the Golden Girls in South Africa. There is a troupe in Canada that has put the Golden Girls onto stage – all men dressed in drag. I did have that idea in mind, in case I couldn’t find the ladies to play these iconic roles.

TCR: Please give a brief outline of each episode in your production?

WR: EP1: After Rose’s boyfriend David dies in her bed, she believes his death was her fault; her late husband had died under similar circumstances and Rose has to deal with repercussions of her actions. EP2: Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche win tickets to attend a post-premiere movie party with Burt Reynolds. However, a hitch in their plan occurs when they are mistaken for prostitutes. EP3-4: Blanche has a hot date, and her uncle comes to town. Blanche decides to set him up on a date with Dorothy which results to a not so innocent prank. Dorothy and Lucas prepare to get married; they try to persuade Sophia to come live with them in Atlanta.

TCR: Does one need to have watched the episodes and/or be familiar with the series/episodes or does this production stand alone?

WR: You don’t need to watch these episodes beforehand -especially if you’re a fan of the show. I had to do a lot of changes in my adaption to stage and changed some of the locations in the scenes to make it theatre friendly. I deleted some scenes as it had no relevance to the story. This is why I have included narrators in the show who will provide you with the most entertaining information about the original actors throughout the show.

TCR: What made you choose these particular episodes? Did you have a South African audience in mind when selecting these episodes?

WR: When I was given the go ahead to direct this show, I spent most of my nights watching episodes of The Golden Girls on Disney+. The first 6 episodes I saw already made me laugh out loud, and this made me realise that I had a lot of work to do. I could have easily done the first four episodes, but I wanted more variety to showcase. Episode 1 was labelled the most viewed in America at that time. Episode 2 had the highest ratings and I thought that I should end off, the celebration, of the Golden Girls with the last ever taped episodes.

TCR: The series was recorded, live, in front of a studio audience so the laughter wasn’t canned. Have you used this in the way you have staged this production- cuing in the audience in the theatre?

WR: That is correct. As our show is adapted to stage, it will run as a stage production. We’re just expecting the laughs to come naturally. This show is funny. You will be laughing.

TCR: You have been a fan of the Golden Girls from way back. What made you decide to do this production now – 2024?

WR: 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. Putting on The Golden Girls at the Masque Theatre was a wild idea way back in 2021 when we had just done a run of Cinderella after Covid. The theatre needed shows that would somehow bring the audience back to the theatre. I suggested that we should do what Faeron Wheeler (Masque Programming Manager) did with Absolutely Fabulous in 2018- adapt well-known comedy show on to stage. I was told to write but I wanted to be in it. I wanted to play Dorothy. Two years later the call was made for suggestions for productions, and I jumped at the chance. Everybody knows The Golden Girls. You can just whisper it to your phone and the algorithm, and you will get to know them. If you don’t know them, the show will still be a delight.

TCR: The series was very ahead of its time – tackling controversial topics such as AIDS and same sex relationships and was trailblazing in terms of providing a platform for older women?

WR: Yes, the writers did not hold back in the 80s and 90s which allowed these girls really show the world that they are not dead. As I continued my research, I was astonished on the topics that they spoke on. They were definitely ahead of their time. I was so young at the time that most of what they were talking about went over my head. We should all go back and watch their episodes as their messages relevant for today.

TCR: Have you gone for a camp send-up of the Golden Girls or is it a homage or both?

WR: I am celebrating them. We have narrators who will provide you with all that you need to know about the show and the actresses that made us love the Golden Girls in hilarity, so you are in safe capable hands. My Golden Girls have been inspired by the actresses who have played the iconic characters. I wasn’t looking for carbon copies of them. I was looking for the essence of the characters in my actresses that I could pull out from them and then bring it to life on stage.

✳Featured image: Tanya Smith, Kerith Coulson, Wayne Ronné (director), Gwendolen Ward, Katherine Fillmore. Ronné is directing The Golden Girls at the Masque in Muizenberg, Cape Town, 2024. Photo by Christine Kaye. Supplied