North Coast’s Got Talent!

When you live in a big little town like Ballito for 10 years and you realise that, unbeknown to you, you have gotten to know everyone (well, almost everyone) then it’s easy to enjoy what’s around you. This month we were invited to two local school cultural productions and we were really pleasantly surprised at the local talent we have. It was an absolute pleasure to watch and total entertainment from beginning to end! I have to admit it was also really nice to see the rugby boys performing both on and off the field; our local schools definitely produce well-rounded individuals! 

Ashton College had their variety show in mid-May and it consisted of a few different bits from various grades. A
big cast was involved here with many hours of practise, voice-breaking stuff along with bruises and sore muscles.
From solo singing from Mika O Meera and the talented vocals of Crystin Parnell to solo dancing by our very own dancing mamba Jed Bullock…then Chade Moore who is awesome on stage…to The Rocky Horror Show to Alice in
Wonderland, a lot was covered. Regan Sharp absolutely stole the show as Frank N. Furter from the Rocky Horror Picture Show; who said rugby boys can’t pull off high heels, stockings and red lipstick? Nakita Duminy and Gabriella
Schoeman kept us laughing and entertained in between pieces, while Jordyn Hynd and Sian Owen’s “meteorites” bit was hilarious! One of our favourite pieces was performed to the song One Hundred Years, showing a couple going
through the stages of young love performed starting with Travis Strydom and Nicole Mather, Kieran Taylor and Rosilita de Agrela as a newly engaged couple, Jarred Opperman and Tanielle Mc Callum at a wedding, the wonders and excitement of pregnancy by Ceagan Scott and Alex Futter, Finolia Delgado and Regan Sharp and then back to Travis and Nicole, still in love well into their old age. What a lovely touching piece. Pictures can speak a thousand words and so we will let them do the talking!

Crawford College North Coast held their murder mystery play called ‘No Clue’ at the end May – an interesting and spellbinding mix of craziness! I loved that the entire play was written, cast, produced and acted by the kids themselves! Stand out moments included a stellar performance by Alex Paterimos; a talented young man who we’ve known since he was six years old. It was fantastic to see how funny he is on stage as the perfect person to play Mr Stitch. Matthew Harrison was an outstanding, funny second butler named Useless who kept us entertained throughout. We thought it was really smart to bring in ‘extras’ to the cast: Kyra Viljoen and Kalin Naidoo were a hilarious team who kept the play interesting at all times! Christopher Knoesen pulled off the perfect Mr HandinshpleenER, German accent and all. The ladies handled their roles perfectly and our favourites were
Milan van Koert as Professor Autopsy with her “duk” Afrikaans accent and Storm Mirtle as Miss Embalm-Matterson.
Christian Maidman was perfect in the cameo role of Walter Negsdohr, another rugby boy who can perfectly pull off pink pyjamas. Oh, and we cannot forget to mention that impressive beard of Austen Chetty! A solid round of applause for the entire cast, it was a pleasure to watch. And no, we still don’t know who killed whom, but that does not matter at all!

Words: Lorinda Scott