Latoya Newman
Rap meets drag this Valentine’s weekend in Stupid Cupid: Valentine’s is such a drag, staging at the Rhumbelow Theatre in Durban.
The Family Players (Allan Quihampton, Derek Pearce, Greg Baptie and Roland Stansell) – who’ve produced some hilarious comedy drag – and hip hop outfit Statik (Selwyn Rautenbach and Clinton Green) have produced a unique hip hop/drag fusion show, set against a Valentine’s theme.
Stansell said the idea for this mixed genre offering stemmed from wanting to stage something new. “Last year we did Suspects of Love with the four drag guys and I felt we just needed something different to complement the drag guys. I asked Selwyn and Clinton in July if they where keen and they said ‘yes’. I thought having the boys would give some eye-candy for the woman at the theatre.”
Stansell said the show is loosely structured to give everyone an opportunity to shine. “The drag focus is primarily comedy/parody type material. The Statik boys are doing some of their own work, blending into some of the routines with the drag guys. So I think it will have a very different energy mix to last year.”
Rehearsals are on the go and the merging of the two art forms has gone well. “Statik have been part of creating rather than sitting back and waiting for the material. You have a better product when everyone participates. If you do something you enjoy then you will normally do it from the heart.
“Statik have found a wonderful version of Hey Big Spender, a drag classic, and are using it for one of the dance routines. Yours truly will be doing the vocal mime portion on the song. There are some fabulous new comedy songs, the titles say it all: Every Man I Love is Either Dead, Gay or Married, Scratch that Kitty, Johnny’s Little Yo Yo, Bring on the Men and obviously the song Stupid Cupid–to name a few,” said Stansell.
He is hoping to attract new crowds to the theatre with this type of genre, “We already have bookings from Norwegian people. I love their comment: ‘Let’s book, you know we’ve never been to a drag comedy show’,” he laughed. “We had the new pics up at theatre over the weekend with us and Statik. It created a lot of interest.”
l Catch Stupid Cupid fromFriday to Sunday. 8pm on Friday and Saturday; 2pm and 6.30pm on Sunday. R120, R100 for pensioners. Tables of eight or more at Computicket or call 031 205 7602.
Bring picnic baskets.