Just a Song and a Dance OLD
Not your average cabaret duo, “Just a Song and a Dance” looks at the women of PlumSong: a mother-daughter duo with a killer repertoire, kickass voices and a less-than-classic style of mother-daughter banter. PlumSong are at yet another gig, where they need to be (much to their dismay) background music and not a cabaret. Join Sharyn and Dara as they sing, dance, and complain their way through another gig and you’ll understand just how this friendship blossomed.
"Beth and Seidel-Kometz deliver an amazing jazzy yet modern set-list with attitude and astonishing vocal gymnastics... it truly is a charming and delightful theatre experience"
- Barbara Loots, Theatre Scene Cape Town
"Enjoy a light-hearted, feel-good performance by two hugely talented artists. They complement each other beautifully, and not just with their singing. They interact with the audience, leading to lots of chuckles. A special mention must be made for their expressive soundcheck person."
- Tanya Van Onselen, Cue Media "Fringe 50 Reviews"
Plumsong is Sharyn and Dara's real-life cabaret duo which they formed in 2011, while Dara was still in Matric. “Plumsong” is a swing/jazz/pop/cabaret duo which performs at venues and functions across Cape Town.Sharyn Seidel has been singing for 32 years. Her vocal range has
afforded her the privilege of being able to perform in cabarets,
musicals, blues, alternative and rock bands. Sharyn’s career began in
1986 with the very successful cabaret "Junk ‘n Jive". In 1987, she
moved to Johannesburg where she recorded and played with various cover
and original bands until her move to New York in 1993. In 1995, Sharyn
returned to Cape Town where she was cast as the lead vocalist in the
sell-out rock show "Roll Over Beethoven", which ran for 11 months at
the Pump House, in the V&A Waterfront. Sharyn also recorded her own
CD in 2002. After its release and quite a few NYC shows under her belt,
Sharyn decided to take a break from music to focus more on her family.
Sharyn returned to Cape Town in 2011 and started the three-piece group
“The King & Us” along with Lionel Bastos and Russell King. In 2011,
Sharyn formed “Plumsong” with her daughter, Dara. “Plumsong” is a
swing/jazz/pop/cabaret duo which continues to perform at venues and
functions across Cape Town. Sharyn also fronts Cape Town-based rock band
Rock Steady. (She also made the poster)
Dara Beth is first and foremost an angry, Jewish feminist. Secondly, she
is one half of the cabaret duo “Plumsong”, which she has been
performing as since 2011 with mom and fellow performer, Sharyn Seidel.
Dara completed UCT’s Theatre and Performance programme this January (for
which she received the class medal for theatre-making, the Ruth
Peffer’s Prize and distinctions in Drama). Since graduating, Dara has
worked as a stage manager on Wessel Pretorius’s “Klara Maas Se Hart Is
Gebreek” (2017) and “Die Ontelbare 48” (2017), Ameera Conrad’s
“Reparation” (2017) and Jon Keevy’s “The Underground Library” for
ASSITEJ’s Cradle of Creativity (2017). During her studies, Dara also
directed her class’s production of “Figs” (2016) for the National Arts
Festival’s Student Festival at which she was nominated for Best Student
Director. Dara also makes up one third of The Furies, a womxn-centric
artistic co-op with whom she will be staging two original productions
before the end of the year.
Kathleen Stephens graduated from the University of Cape Town with a
degree in Theatre and Performance, specializing in theatre-making, in
2014 and has not stopped working since. As a performer, Kathleen’s most
recent credits include Jon Keevy’s “Underground Library” for ASSITEJ’s
Cradle of Creativity (2017), Jon Keevy’s “Single-Minded” (2016) and
Wessel Pretorius’s “I love you, Sally Field” (2016). Kathleen Stephens
makes up one third of the creative team The Furies, a collective
dedicated to making work for and by womxn with a particular focus on
giving to space to narratives of colour. An incorporator of Hungry Minds
Productions (NPC), Kathleen has also been heavily involved in the
devising, staging, designing and performing of productions such as
“People Beneath Our Feet” (2016) and Athol Fugard’s “People are Living
There”(2015). Kathleen is also a contracted director for Arepp: Theatre
for Life where she directs educational theatre productions which have
toured across the provinces of South Africa. As a director she creates a
work space which is not only safe but exciting and inspires performers
to play.
Audience Responses
I took 7 guests and they are still raving about the show. What talent ! We had sore bellies from laughing. I would love to see it again.
refreshing and warm! thank you !
Outstanding performance
Loved it!! Thank you....
Excellent entertainment, loved it. Thank you!
Absolutely Fabulous! !!!
Just loved it. Great performances all round, singing , acting and humor! Great Entertainment!
Excellent production! Great music and perfect comedic timing - thoroughly enjoyed.