The academy strives for - and, more importantly, achieves - a high standard of technical excellence in its dancers and is shooting for similar accolades for its actors and singers. Getting musical theatre stalwarts Luitingh and Alexander on board is a step in the right direction. They share a wealth of experience on stage, having starred in musicals like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, and Grease, among others. Luitingh is a voice coach and part-time lecturer in his craft, while Alexander is a part-time lecturer at CAPA and gives workshops around South Africa.
Their choice of theme is relevant to their students as well as their audience. It's about "the connection between adolescence and adult lessons" - the ups and downs of teen romance and the consequences of pushing boundaries. Euphoric highs are weighed down by dramatic lows as the cast explores the effects of unwanted pregnancy, suicidal self-loathing, gender choice, sexual disease and violent rape. The script is honest and direct, and contains some good lessons for parents, guardians and the young adults in their care.
Song choices are cleverly selected for lyrical content and range from nostalgic golden oldies to popular modern hits. The lead singers would have fared better with the use of radio mics as their voices were often drowned in the company of the chorus. Care needs to be taken regarding diction, projection, key and breathing techniques - some backing tracks were recorded too low for the voice and some lyrics were lost as the singers tried to hit the notes.
Henk Opperman, one of three boys in the cast and former winner of kykNET's Dans Dans Dans, is proving he's not just a dancer. The man can sing and act too - he's a magnet for the audience's attention.
Overall, Crazy Little Thing is a memorable show with a powerful message - if you're not talking to your child about sex, who is? Look out for its next staging at Artscape Theatre in November in Cape Town.
