Media & Reviews

Review

Review of Sillage by Megan Furniss

Review of Sillage by David Fick

Not a Reveiw. Mention on Broadwayworld

Audience Responses

Excellent performance by both actresses. And perfect play for the intimate space. I really enjoyed it.

Thoroughly enjoyed

Brilliant performance !

Rebecca Makin-Taylor and Michele Belknap are stellar in this production. They capture this sort-of white South African English woman sensibility. Illusive yet omnipresent. I was impressed with the performance. I was also intrigued by the white chairs, table, dresses. Clever. The writing is smart and oh so relevant. I salute Penelope Youngleson for writing this little gem of a play. The questions raised about whiteness in South Africa, motherhood, mothers and daughters, and dealing with a troubled post-apartheid South Africa are all relevant. I applaud the daring to touch on the convoluted generational relationship between young white South Africans and how their parents are implicated in apartheid, and in turn how the young people are implicated. A conversation white South Africa rarely engages in. In all of this awesomeness, I do wish that the play stayed a bit longer on the "political" issues. So much more to explore. ....... Oh and the perfume monologue is just fantastic!

We were pleasantly surprised with the theater; it has a special intimate atmosphere. The performance was very professionally done, and very relevant for older people like us; we can identify with the situation. Coming from Stellenbosch was definitely worthwhile. I was a bit surprised at the price of a glass of white wine. R 50.00 is a bit high; my research field is wine and health! We have no hesitation to rate the performance 5. David and Anna-Marie van Velden

Thoroughly enjoyed

5 out of 5. Utterly utterly brilliant. Well done to all involved! I was captivated every minute....

Beautiful piece of writing. Mum sometimes used such a 'ghost of a whisper' as to be entirely inaudible. Daughter was pitch-perfect.

I enjoyed the show so much that I returned again last night with other friends. Brilliant!!!!

My daughters and I, flu shot great resonance in this thought provoking piece of theatre - we laughed at ourselves and were provoked to confront those difficult bits of our relationship we like to keep under wraps! Lovely, witty, and highly enjoyable piece of theatre!

exceptional script and performance, well cast too

original and very real story, written with great insight and depth of feeling...loved the staging and the simplicity of uncomfortable movement by way of trying to "avoid" the sub text...the actors both gave beautiful and emotional performances that came from their truth. Thoroughly enjoyed the show on every level - made me feel a great deal.

Brilliantly acted. Thought provoking. Rings true for our family.

Good acting but play script needs to go back to the drawing board. It.does not gel as they say! Concepts. clumsily inserted and breaking the flow of the narrative. It could be a very good but to several of us who attended that evening the general consensus was it needed to be reworked. We found the play interesting and we enjoyed our evening. We come as a group regularly and we find the different shows stimulating- We come from Oasis Retirement Resort at Century City and we love the atmosphere of the venue and the variety of performances.

.beautifully conceived. The subject matter moved seamlessly from one topic to another and between the 2 characters so effortlessly that the viewer hardly realised how widespread the topic is. A mirror for mothers and their offspring!

The performances were outstanding, the personal stories compelling and completely sincere, interesting and relevant, but the daughter's political rant felt shoe-horned in. Definitely worth watching.

excellent writing and performances thank you

Hi, the performance was brilliant. The two women couldn't be better in their expressions and showing the drama. The only thing I did not understand was the dancing part at the beginning and I was wondering what this is about. But apart from that: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. P.S. Please not that your air condition was dripping at the end of the performance which was quite irritating as noisy. Best regards, ines

Well worth seeing, with wonderful cubist viewpoint. Script was a bit forced at times, with occasional flowery language occasionally getting in the way, as well as conceptual clutter. Strong performances, and excellent direction most of the way through.

I emailed my comments. I hope you got 'em. Couldn't access this earlier.

Fantastic. Beautiful production. Makes me sad how we don't appreciate our parents and what they do for us.

Great acting, wonderful moments of humour and tension. A little word heavy at times, although the movement sequences helped to break it up.

It's rare in theatre to come across such beautifully drawn characters. An exquisite piece of writing, sensitively performed. This is one of the very best things I have ever seen at the Alexander Bar.

Loved this play first time round and again on second viewing. It's a beautiful tender piece with a multi-layered and evocative script by Penny Youngleson. Rebecca Makin-Taylor and Michele Belknap are superb as a mother and daughter trying to make sense of their lives. We all want to be special, cherished. And then after it all, what lingers? The scent of our younger selves, experiences, offspring, memories – that is what we hold onto. Penny was awarded a prestigious Standard Bank Gold Ovation Award for best production at the 2016 National Arts Fringe Festival and she was recently nominated for a Fleur du Cap Theatre award for best new script. @TheCapeRobyn

A script from heaven and a cast of angelic , ethereal yet incredibly real womyn. Can't wait for the return season

Creative refreshing and thought provoking

Beautifully realized.

This production was outstanding. Play content, although disquieting, was relevant to universal mother/ daughter interactions and dealt with many pertinent issues. Very cleverly written. Costumes, hair and makeup were simple yet described so much about the two characters. Michele Belknap and Rebecca Makin - Taylor's performances were faultless - an exacting play to perform, every facial expression and movement important - yet they held the audience's attention throughout. Congratulations on a fabulous performance.

The performances were outstanding, the personal stories compelling and completely sincere, interesting and relevant, but the daughter's political rant felt shoe-horned in. Definitely worth watching.

brilliant theatre!

I watched the play with four girlfriends and after the show we all agreed that we should go home and phone our mothers. The characters were spot on, I felt like I had met the mother before and I have definitely behaved like the daughter many times. It was accessible, layered and so relevant. I would love to see another of Penny's plays performed at Alexander Bar.

Very topical for us - busy packing up parents. Thought provoking and excellent theatre. Thank you!

Hello, really enjoyed the show and tough was funny and entertaiining

I enjoyed the show so much that I returned again last night with other friends. Brilliant!!!!

I enjoyed the show so much that I returned again last night with other friends. Brilliant!!!!

A marvelous and unique experience. Sillage was theatre at its best with a script that is still making me think. The staff were so friendly and helpful. We had supper afterwards. It was quiz night so it was a bit noisie but we soon joined in and even knew some the answers. The food was basic but tasty although could have been a bit warmer. Mine was cold before I'd finished. Overall a lovely evening and I will certainly do it again. Kind regards Viv Marais.

The performances were outstanding, the personal stories compelling and completely sincere, interesting and relevant, but the daughter's political rant felt shoe-horned in. Definitely worth watching.

Thoroughly enjoyed the show. Excellent portrayal of mother and daughter by Michele and Rebecca. Highly recommend.

I took a potluck chance to watch whatever was showing at 7pm. I had not heard about this production and was definitely not disappointed with what i saw. The quality of the writing ranged from good to outstanding with keenly drawn observations and beautifully crafted moments. There is no doubt that this playwright has exceptional talent and I eagerly await her next work. The performances themselves were also excellent. There is nowhere to hide in such an intimate venue and both performers commanded the space and their characters with a beautiful and convincing delicacy. My only criticisms (hopefully constructive) were as follows ... I found some of the blocking/movement a little contrived, totally unnecessary and at odds with itself. The writing is of such quality that the performers could have stayed put for the entire 60 minutes and still commanded attention. The movement did not drive the play at all and simply got in the way of fabulous writing and performances. Secondly, the political argument was a jarring note. While the issues are absolutely relevant, I felt that they didn't belong in this piece. It was as though someone had sprayed cheap air freshener in a Gras perfume boutique. The theme of this piece is too universal to involve itself in such locally specific contentions. I would encourage the playwright to write a new play on the subject and then take her arguments further as I felt nothing new and challenging was being said. Finally, I loved the perfume theme but was disappointed that it only bore fruit so late in the piece. It's a fantastic through-line and I would urge the playwright to thread it through the entirety of the play. It a useful and beautiful hook on which her skillfully written script must drape. That all being said I would heartily recommend this production and encourage the Alexander Bar to provide every opportunity to this emerging writer to further develop as she has exceptional talent. I have no problem with you disclosing my full details to those involved in this production should they wish to further discuss what i have written. I would gladly give of my time if i could contribute in any way. I would love to see this piece develop. Kindest regards Robert Fridjhon 082 320 8721

Two utterly convincing performances. In the play itself the characters are very finely drawn. When they are talking at (and past) each other, the play has great power. This powerful play is weakened, however, by moments of unnecessary explication, and by the occasional overextended (verbal or visual) metaphor. Definitely one of the best things I've seen at Alexander Upstairs in some time.

The performances were outstanding, the personal stories compelling and completely sincere, interesting and relevant, but the daughter's political rant felt shoe-horned in. Definitely worth watching.

A really entertaining and thought provoking piece of theatre. Well written, well staged and excellent performances.

Brilliant! Riveting, well acted,interesting worth seeing

Brilliant!

A very thought-provoking piece which gave rise to a good discussion afterwards as we sat eating

Hi Guys Couldn't make the feedback button s work for me. So my thoughts briefly re SILLAGE: Beautiful work, not pretty. Has head, heart and base notes. Lingers. Struck many a chord (to change the metaphor) And the production itself is Youngleson at her best. Loved performances. I seldom rate but I give it 5 stars. Best Nigel

Excellent

Thought provoking and layered, it makes you wait until the final third to reveal its depth. Perfect performance for the space.

Great performance by the two actors. Spillage is thought provoking. Highly recommendable.

5. I thought the subject matter and the acting was brilliant and brave. Kathy Wolstenholme

a beautifully thought provoking and true to life play, well written with amazing actors. my friend is going again with another group :-)

A Beautiful and painful reflection that struck very close to home, leaving me unable to control my tears. Brilliant work!

Beautiful production. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

exceptional script and performance, well cast too

we (four of us) were very very impressed with the script and the two performances. a thought provoking, wonderful theatre experience.

Brilliant play, brilliant evening!!

Like the hairs of a lost lover that you pull out with the gunk of the shower drain after they've left.

Brilliant. Beautiful.