Gertrude Stein and A Companion
This evocative and witty play explores the extraordinary relationship between lifelong partners Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas who rejected the conservative values of middle class America in the early nineteen hundreds and found refuge in the bohemian decadence of Paris… and in each other.
Stein drew artistic genius to her salon like a magnet, numbering among her close friends Hemingway, Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Klee and Scott Fitzgerald among other artists, writers and poets. They regularly gathered at what became known as the ‘Mecca for the modern-minded’ where they inspired each other to create art, drank often, fought often, fell in and out of love… and occasionally indulged in Alice’s hash brownies. The mystique of the ‘lost generation’ in Paris, a term coined by Stein, serves as a colourful backdrop to a tender and unconventional love story which Wells has woven into an absorbing theatre piece.
Media & Reviews
"Lynita’s Alice is solid and terse and grumpy and witty. She is also entirely transformed from her usual blonde and sexy self.""Shirley’s Gertrude is expansive and cheeky and bold and lyrical. Her warmth and sparkle radiate from her.""I loved them. I loved the characters and I loved the performers playing them.""I am seldom jealous of beautiful scripts, but this one made me wish I had written it.""Chris Weare is in his element here as a director. His control, pace, vision and even quirky humour is evident in this hour-long delight."
"Shirley and Lynita– under the precise direction of Chris– conjure up the feisty spirit, acerbic wit of Gertrude and Alice.""Crofford is stylish and chic as Alice and she captivates the feisty Gertrude in front of our eyes."
Review of Gertrude Stein
"Gertrude was alive in Shirley Johnston. Sassy as all hell, yet vulnerable (as only pioneering artists and change-makers can be)""The two doyens of the South African Stage were magnificent and flawless. A triumph, really.""Do go see it. It’s a performance masterclass."
A REVIEW: GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION by SAMANTHA GRAY
Audience Responses
Liked fact that it was educational
I enjoyed the play and thought it was well written and well acted. I came home wanting to read Stein's books.
We loved it. The play was interesting, informative, well acted. Also the music was well chosen. I give it a 5. More of this ! Anne
Exquisite piece of theatre. So deeply moving.
Absolutely fabulous
it were very lovely with a good use of space and lovely, moving performances
Such a great performance. Loved it
Excellent theatre!
our 1st time at the Alexander Bar . loved the show very professional .excellent
Thoroughly enjoyable
Excellent production and acting - much better than I'd expected for such a small venue. Size isn't everything!
I had seen this rather beautiful piece before and if anything I enjoyed it more the second time. It is filled with gentleness, compassion, love - and it's deeply moving while also being archly witty, and slyly funny. Outstanding performances from Lynita Crofford and Shirley Johnston - both magnificent in their physicality and depth of characterisation. What a treat to be able to see theatre of this calibre!
outstanding theatre!
Superb, wonderful theater, best play I have seen for years. Great Venue too. Sue Bross
I thoroughly enjoyed it
Fabulous staging and performances!
Thought the direction and performances were excellent.
Absolutely brilliant acting and exceptional production
Absolutley outstanding performance
Absolutely brilliant acting and exceptional production
Thought it was fantastic!
Superb acting and script.
Great sjoe
The show was incredible! The two ladies were a pleasure to watch and the story was beautifully told.
A piece theatre with great depth and joy, brining the intimacy of their relationship into the intimate space of your theatre. A gem of a piece, beautifully performed.
It was excellent,acting was so in character
Very good
I thought it was brilliant. I really love Christopher's work and as for the actresses - sublime! And the story! Superb. One little niggle - the rhythms should settle. Thank you for a lovely evening out.
Liked fact that it was educational
Most satisfying. It entertains through humor, information and sentiment. If you feel strongly about celebration relations, see it. And the acting and direction is ........lovely.
Excellent performances and lovely play - witty and profound. Recommend it highly.
Fantastic
My companion and I loved the play. The acting was very professional. I would say world-class. The play could easily be staged in the US.
Excellent theatre!
Beautifully calibrated performances that captivated and drew you into a story well told. Lynita Crofford and Shirley Johnston drew you into the lives of Getrude Stein and Alice B Toklas with total conviction - the intimacy of the theatre enhancing the unfolding of their relationship. Full marks to Chris Weare for directing a complex script with a sensitive understatement that moved between pathos and humour so effortlessly. Bravo!! mapmyway.co.za
Intimate, engrossing, interesting point of view for the storytelling
Great performances, interesting and moving content, would like more shows like this. BUT, over the course of the evening, theatre became TOO WARM for comfort!
Brilliant. Effortlessly portrayed. An immersive love story.
Both Shirley Johnson and Lynita Crofford shine in Chris Weare's witty production of these two Bohemian "Americans in Paris".Shirley captures Gertrude's boundless confidence in herself; while Lynita has never been better as the insecure Alice B. Lots of detail (that faint moustache!), and the paintings work well, though I felt photos sometimes worked against onstage portrayals. Lovely! Should play to packed houses next week.
A pleasure to see two well-directed, consummate Proffessionals in a show which was so well suited to the venue.
Excellent production and acting - much better than I'd expected for such a small venue. Size isn't everything!
Really enjoyed it
All five of us thought it was very good
A perfectly crafted play brought to vivid life by two wonderful actresses. Shirley and Lynita gave us great joy.
Brilliant performances by Shirley Johnston & Lynita Crofford! I thoroughly enjoyed the show which is witty, emotional, funny and sincere. I highly recommend watching this show during its' limited run!
Awesome well done ladies - just the right amount of humour but also had me in tears!
Loved it. Review should be out today.
Outstanding performances, poignant moments. Loved it.
A very good play well acted and I came out and have learned something!
Amusing piece, well performed, and well supported by set and music. Enjoyed it a lot :)
A simply superb production. The acting was perfection - with the most beautiful interplay between the two artistes. They WERE Stein and Toklas incarnate! Clever stage set and rear projection of the pictures. We just loved the whole experience.
The acting was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed the show.
Fabulous! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Superb - beautifully written piece and outstanding performances
Two incredible actors. A very insightful look at the artists of the time and the immortal love between two humans.
FANTASTIC...enjoyed it SO MUCH that I intend going again....this time with a friend. Both ladies were superb !!
It was superb, mesmerizing!
I thought it was brilliant. I really love Christopher's work and as for the actresses - sublime! And the story! Superb. One little niggle - the rhythms should settle. Thank you for a lovely evening out.
dazzling performances of a marvellous play - a must see!
My only complaint – it is a small intimate space, using music as background music whilst the actors were talking is not a good idea - it was drowning the voices of the actors and was difficult to follow the dialogue at times and even more so when Alice was typing, it was amplified - not great.
Utterly brilliant and very moving. My first visit to the Alexander. I’ll be back!
Delightful. Nicely observed performances, especially from Shirley Johnstone. Loved the back projections. All in all a satisfactory evening in the theatre.
The acting was phenominal!! Loved the play! Also highly educational! Will definately book to watch these actors again!
Excellent production and acting - much better than I'd expected for such a small venue. Size isn't everything!
Utterly brilliant and very moving. My first visit to the Alexander. I’ll be back!
It was excellent. Very pleased we got to see it.
It was excellent. Very pleased we got to see it.
The actors sucked me into a world gone by and made this couple come to life in a way that I will always remember.
It was a most enjoyable show and the performance by both actors cannot be faulted. They were most " in character " and one felt that both Gertrude and Alice were sharing their thoughts and feelings of their life and the time they spent with each other with you. The times that they spent together seemed so loving. Rob and Joanita
Liked fact that it was educational
Wonderful and absolutely absorbing in all the details....superb, really!
Breathtaking - outstanding acting
Great performances from both actresses.
Fantastic
Great acting - very enjoyable.
Excellent!! No wonder it is back by popular demand
Excellent; great script and direction, and superb performances from both actresses. A real gem of a play.
Wonderful
excellent. very cleverly staged
Superb - beautifully written piece and outstanding performances
Brilliant, riveting performances by two very fine actors, and beautifully directed. I thought it was one of the best dramas I've seen in years. Thank you !
High standard of acting The image projection really enhanced the impact and drew you into the ambiance
Excellent show - the acting was superb & the storyline poignant & moving. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Two amazing actresses! Loved the show.
Shirley Johnston and Lynita Crofford were both brilliant in this poignant and funny play. A must-see if it returns.
Fantastic
4
Exquisite performances in a moving and interesting play.
Rather uneventful, uninformative and less amusing/entertaining than was possible
Brilliantly acted, touching and poignant play.
we were four of the audience and all found the play excellent in every way. very cleverly put together in terms of script, staging and very very well acted. well done to all. thank you
Wonderful to see Shirley and Lynita perform on stage. A uniquely beautiful story and well told through the script.
excellent production and outstanding acting - even though we knew little of Stein and will now have to do some reading!
I absolutely loved it! The performances were very moving and the script was so interesting and funny. I was riveted! This is a wonderful piece of theatre!
It was excellently presented - maybe not quite my preferred subject.... I will definitely return and experience the music and comedy next time!
Brilliant! Such a clever script enhansed by good visuals of photographs and pictures or Gertrude Steins Art.
5 It was a great venue for this excellent play. The acting was superb
Gertrude Stein and a Companion . Brilliant performances by Shirley Johnston and Lynita Crofford. A master class in the skill of acting, bringing the page to life. Yet, I was not watching two actresses at work. I was in the room with Gertrude and Alice. The soul is fed. Thank you.
It’s a rare treat to see two actors at the top of their respective games in a powerful and poignant two-hander tour de force! Both Lynita Crofford and Shirley Johnston are superb in this wryly witty, tender piece detailing the relationship between Gertrude Stein and Alice B Toklas. Both performances were entirely credible, nuanced and deeply moving. Weare’s direction is seamless and spot on. Book, go, spread the word...
Touching and entertaining. Loved the show!
A beautifully observed gem of a show! Shirley and Lynita were born to play these roles.
Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!! I saw the show for the second time and enjoyed it as much as the first time and would definitely see it again!! Great acting and a very touching story.
Excellent acting and portrayal
Excellent production, script, acting. How lucky we are to have such 5 star theatre in (windy) Cape Town – thank you for keeping up your standards.
4 out of 5. Wonderful performances and direction. .interesting material. Learnt new things. One of the slides one couldnt read. 4 stars alk round. Great place
I enjoyed it for what it was - my second time to see it, and I thought the acting really good. But my friend Jo whom I had brought along thought otherwise: I felt uninvolved throughout, without empathy or interest in the dialogue or the characters; the stage direction was non-existent - the portrayal was of two dreary and unimpressive women walking in the same circles, talking about famous people without any stirring of my interest, intellect or emotions - with visuals of Picasso and others paintings but not a word about the effect on them or on the art world - only that they owned them; I felt totally divorced from the characters and their situation; there was no energy or vibrancy, no reason for why avante garde writers or artists ever paid them any interest.
I rated this show a five. It was most enjoyable. Shirley Johnston and Lynita Crofford were superb in their roles and interacted so well. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend the show to others. Well done!
Liked fact that it was educational
absolutely fabulous
Two doyens of the South African Stage. Magnificent and Flawless. A triumph.
Fantastic
Love, love loved it! Phenomenal acting. Great story. Funny and poignant. A love story, a human story a story about art and literature.
Excellently directed with a charming script and quality performances by both actors. A complete evening of classy theatre.
Wonderful . Supurb performances by Shirley and Lynita. Best theatre evening in ages
Very good story and acting!
Very entertaining. The only thing I would change would be less fiddling around with actions like repeatedly taking shoes off and lighting cigarettes, it was a bit distracting. Trust in the words to be enough to maintain interest.
Most satisfying. It entertains through humor, information and sentiment. If you feel strongly about celebration relations, see it. And the acting and direction is ........lovely.
Loved it - great script - fine performances
5+ star rating. Excellent acting. I loved that the set was so simple, and it did not detract from the actors and their dialogue. As I think one of them said ? it was like looking down the lens of a camera. I continued to think about the play when I got home and for the rest of to day. It was definitely NOT forgettable. It portrays life on so many levels and has universal appeal. The concept of lesbians was so far from my thoughts. {I don't have a problem with lesbianism} but it made me feel a bit envious of lesbians!!! They seem to have it all!! I just loved their relationship. In terms of a period piece it has to have been a stellar time in life. I would go and see it again and again [with accomplished actors?]
Wonderful. Play. First class acting. Real joy.
Excellent acting, directing, set design
Delightfully witty and sad play. Outstanding performance by both very talented girls
A really good piece and sensitively directed. Thoughtful and entertaining. Thank you.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, discovered interesting information about their relationship as well as Ernest Hemingway and The Great Artists of the era friendship.Acting was superb, they lit and extinguished many cigarrettes continuously in those days! Great acting, good lighting, music etc and a great atmosphere with good viewing from anywhere as it only holds 70 people! An allround great show for an hour was lovely!
Awesome
Absolutely stunning performances!