More Plays by Richard Kaplan
Selwyn & Gabriel
A magical modern mystery about two strangers with secrets.
Late at night, a young man is confronted in his own home by an enigmatic stranger. Something terrible has happened. What begins as a violent encounter evolves through the night into an intriguing journey of discovery about regret and real estate, flight and friendship, lies and integrity — and love — as Gabriel draws Selwyn toward the truth, a truth that is both tender and terrifying.
Originally staged at the Alexander Bar & Theatre in Cape Town, Selwyn & Gabriel was directed by Tara Notcutt and starred Kai Luke Brummer and Mbulelo Grootboom. The production returned for a second season following sold-out performances and was later presented at the National Arts Festival. It was subsequently presented at several South African arts festivals and adapted for Afrikaans television.
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Mbulelo Grootboom as Gabriel and Kai Luke Brummer as Selwyn
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Reviews
"This is a poignant, tender piece of theatre – wryly observed, skilfully crafted, funny and affirming."
— Robyn Cohen, Cape Times
"Right from the start this simple, yet immensely powerful setting of Selwyn & Gabriel hooks you into a world you can never quite figure out... In the era of predictability and commonality, the text is refreshing."
— B Sharp Entertainment
"Selwyn and Gabriel is a beautifully written piece of new South African writing and is well worth seeing."
— Ashraf Johaardien, LitNet
Additional Plays
Madame Butterfly and the German Plumber
An irrepressible drag artist's life is turned upside down by an HIV diagnosis and a strikingly handsome German plumber.
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| The staged reading of Madame Butterfly and the German Plumber |
Madame Butterfly and the German Plumber is a good-natured, irreverent theatrical comedy that playfully explores the idea that deep within each of us lies something good and beautiful striving to emerge. At its centre is Madame B, an outrageous and exuberant drag artist with an insatiable appetite for life, a unique understanding of the world and a profound love of the arts. When Madame B's flourishing career is interrupted by a new HIV diagnosis and the unexpected arrival of a strikingly handsome German plumber, she faces both crisis and temptation with humour, resilience and remarkable grace.
A staged reading of Madame Butterfly and the German Plumber was presented at the Alexander Bar & Theatre under the direction of Wessel Pretorius. The cast featured Riaan Visman as Geraldine (Madame Butterfly), Chris Adrian Fisher as James, Kiroshan Naidoo as Dr Ravesh Moodley, and Pascaul Wakefield as the German Plumber.
A Mongoose in the Garden
A dark comedy exploring love, loss, history and imagination.
A young academic's world begins to unravel as the historical figures he studies begin appearing in his living room, blurring the boundaries between scholarship, memory and madness.
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| Chris Adrian Fisher in the staged reading of Madame Butterfly and the German Plumber |