Twenty-seven years after Poison, the legendary production by David Kramer and the late great Taliep Petersen hit the world stage, a remake of this evergreen story will hit the planks at the Baxter Theatre this month.
It’s called Danger in the Dark, and in true Petersen/Kramer style the show, a musical, takes an engaging look at life on the Cape Flats.
Heading up the star cast is Loukmaan Adams, along with Rushney Ferguson, Alexis Petersen and Grant van Ster.
The play tells the story of Pamela, played (Alexis), a recently graduated social worker who has decided to write her thesis on drug abuse on the Cape Flats where she grew up.
Sadly she finds her friend, Juanita (Rushney) in the clutches of an evil and controlling drug merchant, Michael (Loukmaan).
Pamela tries to save her friend who is being badly abused by Michael, but the women face nearly insurmountable odds as they get caught up in the dark underbelly of crime and drugs.
David says: “This is a very necessary work for our time and now, more than ever, will certainly resonate with Cape Town audiences.
“With this reworked version of the musical, I decided to tell the story from the point of view of Pamela, a social worker who is writing her thesis on drug abuse on the Cape Flats, but I have retained many of the original songs.”
Alexis, 24, says she is excited about the new venture, as her character is very different from the “solemn” ones she played before.
She says the play couldn’t have come at a better time to highlight gender-based violence as South Africa is gripped in a wave of femicide currently.
“Right now, we have gender-based violence even more prominent in our communities, and this show tells that story we all recognise, but don’t talk about.”
Rushney, 30, only hopes she does her role as a victim of abuse justice, saying: “It’s amazing to be able to unpack such a character.”
PRODUCER: David Kramer. Picture: JACK LESTRADE
Loukmaan says it’s a typical good versus evil story, and while working on it, he has had to learn to reprogramme himself.
The award-winning actor, who grew up in Mitchells Plain, recommends all men and boys watch the show so they can see for themselves the disastrous effects of toxic masculinity.
“There is so much to think about. Our men and boys on the Cape Flats are taught to go for power and status and be the man,” he says.
“We are taught not to cry and keep our feelings to ourselves. Danger in the Dark has taught me to speak about what bothers me. “I see the show as a dark, but reflective look at how we were raised (on the Flats) and some things we can still change or do better.”
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The show runs at the Baxter Theatre from 11 October to 2 November.