A comedy-drama about love, death and sex. While grappling with a sense of alienation and the spirit of his tragically deceased mother, Nate, a gay artist falls in love with James, his delightfully strange and unusual model. As their relationship grows, we discover why we are on earth, what Walt Whitman really meant, if James Franco is gay and what happened to J D Salinger. Don't miss it. The play had its first outing as a staged reading at Alexander Bar earlier in 2016 and was wonderfully received by the audience for its humour, poignancy and quirkiness. The characters of portrait artist, Jewish mother and exuberant young gay man are brought together in close quarters by means of a fresh device. It's a rich and enjoyable piece full of literary musings, art, hangups, Jewish culture, sex, the naked body and even how to put together the perfect Friday night dinner.

Creative Team

Andrew Laubscher is a film and stage actor. He received a Fleur du Cap in 2014 for his role as Riff-Raff in Rocky Horror. He most recently appeared on stage at Alexander Bar in Louis Viljoen's acclaimted new play The Emissary.

Megan Furniss is an actor, playwright and improvisor. She works in many capacities as facilitator, writer and performer. She won a Fleur du Cap in 2009 for innovation in theatre. Her play The Tent was selected to be part of an exciting programme of African plays at the National Theatre Studio in London.

David Viviers received the Brett Goldin Bursary this year and was nominated for the 2015 Fleur du Cap for most promising student. He last appeared on stage at Alexander Bar in The Maids.

Adrian Collins is an actor and director. He directed A Steady Rain which premiered at Alexander Bar last year and is transferring to The Fugard Theatre in October. Look out for his hilarious web series, Ryno the game-ranger, on Youtube.

Guy de Lancey is a film and stage actor and director. He's worked extensively both locally and internationally. Local audiences will know him for his work as actor and director in The Mechanicals. He received a Fleur du Cap for his lighting design of Dead Yellow Sands which was staged at Alexander Bar.

Richard Kaplan is a medical doctor working in the field of HIV research at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation. The Finkelsteins are Coming to Dinner is his first produced play.

Evan Oberholster is a figurative artist who has provided the artworks for the play and will be exhibiting a series of male nudes in the parlour room of the Alexander Bar. The exhibition will run in conjunction with the runs of the play at Cape Town Fringe and Alexander Bar.

Nicholas Spagnoletti, playwright and owner of  Alexander Bar, is playing the role of consultant producer and dramaturg on this new production.

Media & Reviews

"David won a Cape Town Fringe Fresh Award as Fresh Performer. Most deserved. Stunning performance. ""It’s an ingenious device for playwright Richard Kaplan to present a wry commentary on everything from love, death, sexuality and Jewish identity"

Review

"Furniss is something of a revelation - smart, carefully pitched performance" "offers an evening of solid entertainment" "For its pivotal love scene alone, it is worth going to see what is being cooked up for the Finkelsteins' visit."

Review by David Fick

"superbly rounded text" ... "all three of them were a joy to watch"

Review

Audience Responses

Deeply disappointed at being prevented from seeing the show by a flat battery on the way to it. So we were entertained by street peope while waiting for the AA to arive with a new battery, which happened while the Late Show was running at the Alex. Was looking forward to seeing Megan and Andrew in action and Adrian doing his Thing at directing such august actors! Grateful for Evelyn's genteel hosting beforehand and seeing the kind Big Mullahs too.

Interesting concept that could have been a really great show but in the end was just 'ok'. The script felt a bit forced and the acting obvious, leaning a little too much towards amateur. In order to work the story required on a really powerful performance by the mother who I thought didn't sufficiently own her role. Lacking a universal appeal the material was very much a Jewish story for a Jewish audience. The Jewish neurotic with mother issues seems like tired territory.

Until when is it on ? Want to see it again !

5 out of 5. Original, funny, topical. Great performances, higly entertaing, a great uplifting night out. The show and cast and venue rock. Janet du Plessis

First time at your venue. Terrific restaurant and really loved the show - Thank you. Please keep me updated on future shows on your mailing list. Thanks Stephen Cohen cohuys@mweb.co.za 082 600 5335c

Superb. A hit. All 3 actors wonderful, but David Viviers a revelation.... and we're not talking dangly bits!

Pleasant hour, amusing and enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this bittersweet play and the fabulous acting. Laugh out loud funny in parts and poignant too. And the Alexander Bar as a venue is great.

We enjoyed the venue but were a bit disappointed with the content of the show. Acting was great.

Excellent show. Not to be missed.

Excellent.

The playwright cleverly integrated the two live and the one dead characters. The whole was snappy, funny and very professional. thoroughly enjoyed.

Bloody marvellous!

I enjoyed this... but not as much as the other plays and shorts and vignettes I have seen at the Alexander...

Good, but, not great. Up against “Bad Jews” by comparison. Took a while to recognise Mum was not in the room, it was modern and well paced. I enjoyed it. I do love the Aleax, from OMG to drama, music and talks to Whale Ale!!

We found Finkelstein's delightful. It was intelligently directed and nicely played by the actors, all three of whom gave well judged performances which never descended into caricature. The writing was brilliant. A fine evening. We giggled a lot. It was also

The Venue and play were wonderful, the food was the worst meal I have eaten in SA in 11 years it was so disgusting I will never eat at you again, how u turn toasted Chick Mayo into the Sahara Dessert on Cardboard is an art, seriously serviing Burgers and Sandwhichs try make them tasty, and make chips not crisps. I want your theatre to be around but that food might be terminal please fix it, start again its not Rocket Science.

I enjoyed this... but not as much as the other plays and shorts and vignettes I have seen at the Alexander...

Simply entertaining, uncomplicated, unpretentious theater. I bought into the story, characters and setting straight away. Really refreshing.

Awesome show, only complaint was that it went by too quickly!

I love this play! I attended the play reading and knew it was going to be great! Yes, this is the correct word. It's fun, funny, fast entertainment. Superb cast and director. Love it.

Light hearted entertainment!

I loved the play.5 out of 5.I enjoyed my experience at the Alexander Bar. The waitress was very friendly and the cocktail was good. The play was very real and poignant. Coming again tonight to see the prophet play at 7.

This was a fantastic story with extremely talented actors to tell it. I thoroughly enjoyed the play and have recommended it to a number of my friends.

A total delight :) I thought it was wonderful!

Well acted. Lovely dialogue.perfect timing. Loved every minute.

Brilliant!! Love the venue too.

A very thought provoking piece of theatre. Good acting all round. Just rather petered out

Great show, with fine actors!

(Sorry, this got buried among other emails.) I saw it first as a reading, and thought that is was very well realised now as a full production. Excellent performances, of course - two of my favourite male actors. And it is well written - funny and pertinent. I thought the moments between scenes needed more thought and work: they weren't consistent. Now it was a black-out and pause, now it was a segue straight into the next scene. I liked the latter. Very successful outing.

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.

Enjoyable show

A very good play - well written with an intelligent plot, hilarious, so much potential! David Viviers was good, his acting natural, seemed so comfortable in his own skin, well played. Andrew Laubscher's acting unfortunately unconvincing. The sadness of his character and emotional turmoil did not come through. His acting flat, listless. Megan Furniss - oh, my word: pathetic. She rattled off the script as if reading it as fast possible, just to get the show over! I am sure not even a ghost would sound like that. The character of this Jidish mamma has so much potential, but she caused the play to fall flat. Although 'dead', she should come 'alive', and then the play could be a resounding success!

The evening was tarnished by the fact that we could not eat at the Alexander.. We were a party of 11. It should have been made clear that on a Wednesday no meals are available because of the Quiz evening but otherwise we found the prices very fair which is unusual for CT. CONMGRATULATIONS to all the actors and those involved with the show... A great script and very well executed. Thought provoking and a deep message :-) We will be back

Absolutely loved it! Thoroughly entertaining

I absolutely loved every minute. Highly entertaining and beautifully executed

great story, great acting

Fun show, lots of humour and good acting. Really enjoyed it

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.

Beautiful performances and a wonderful work. Well done!

An excellent and very original production! Very privileged to have such talent in our city.

Excellent play and wonderful performances. Very funny!

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.

Excellent show, the cast were brilliant and very engaging!

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.

Excellent play with stellar performances from all 3 actors.

Loved it.

Perfect - excellent performances and a brilliant, layered and meaningful script that managed to be funny while pulling no punches.

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.

An interesting perspective on second hand religious beliefs and old vs new ideals, modern food for thought.

Wonderful play, excellent production, two men outstanding performances, mother a bit weak - a great evening

We found Finkelstein's delightful. It was intelligently directed and nicely played by the actors, all three of whom gave well judged performances which never descended into caricature. The writing was brilliant. A fine evening. We giggled a lot. It was also

Hysterical! A definite must see - you can bring the play back anytime!

It made for a very enjoyable evening! Cast were brilliant!

Very funny and entertaining show, acting was brilliant! Loved the Jewish jokes re homosexuals, shabbat dinner etc and the all-round Jewishness i.e. kaddish, tzimmes etc. (I am Jewish). Only negative was that it was too short!

Loved the play, clever and funny

This show will be a 5 star hit in New York

Very funny, very touching

I loved the quirky concept and the play as a whole. Ithought it worked well in the small intimate surroundings of the Alexander venue. It may have been a directorial approach but i thought the mother quite wooden and voice monotonous. If she'd been like that in life then that's fine, but if she'd been more animated then she would not have changed... so i'm curious.

Great! We enjoyed it. Witty, well-paced, convincing performances.

Outright funny to thought-provoking and empathetic, effectively done in 50 minutes.

Funny and entertaining. Some nice literary reference.

Excellent!

Omg, where to begin...it was absolutely brilliant!!*****

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.

Good performances, thought provoking and just the right length of show to deliver the impact of the subject matter. Well staged within the limitations of the theatre space. A most enjoyable evening out.

The show was achingly funny, meaningful and moving. Excellent performances and a fantastic little piece of theatre.

We thought the cast was excellent and portrayed their characters well. It was an excellent show

Really loved this. I thought it was going to be a little on the heavy side but was gladly mistaken. Such an easy play to watch. Warm, real, funny. Well written and brilliantly performed by all 3 actors. Well done to everyone.

A fun and interesting story, that most of us can relate to. I enjoyed the intimate stage setting. The mom was great!

Sparkling script, entertaining story and excellent acting. A particularly efficient and helpful young front-of-house manager who chivvied people upstairs - he went the extra mile in a number of ways and is to commended very highly indeed. In general A LOT better a production than some seen recently at The Alexander.

Three lovely performances, one exquisite script. A clever and beautiful little production, with nothing to fault it. Wonderful.

Great show. Love the bar and venue. Any chance of aircon in the theatre? Would not allow bookings in the bar rather operate on 1st come 1st serve basis.

Fine, clever acting from all three! Thank you.

Excellent acting and a winsome main plot in the dead mother. Good development in the Jewish, gay, and generational themes, too.

Loved every minute!!

Really enjoyed, excellent content just a little.short in duration.

The show was great and as first-timers we really appreciated the venue. Will definitely be back - please keep me posted of new productions. Jannie

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.

Excellent show. Really enjoyed and was only sorry it was over so quickly.