Joburg get ready, Aunty Merle is in Town.

PROTEAS, PINK AND PAKISTAN
2019-01-28
Meeting Soccer legend Samuel Eto’o
2019-02-14

For those of you who don’t know, Merle Abrahams is a warm hearted lady from Belgravia Road in Athlone. She loves to share opinions over a slice of home baked lemon meringue while her husband Dennis (a plumber) is at work. She is someone who always looks impeccable and takes great pride in her free-standing home and will casually drop into conversation that both her children have degrees.

Aunty Merle is the alter ego of Comedian Marc Lottering. “Aunty Merle is very close to my heart, as the character is drawn from charismatic women whom I was surrounded by while growing up on the Cape Flats,” comments Lottering. With this show, Lottering breaks away from his traditional one man show and takes you on a musical journey with a full cast of new characters.

High drama unfolds as Merle’s daughter, Abigail, announces her engagement to her boyfriend, Alan. As Merle puts it: “He’s a good looking white chap!” But it’s never smooth-sailing in the world of musicals when Abigail’s twisted and corrupt ex, Denver Paulse – who holds a dodgy top job with the SABC – is determined to get her back – and if not, threatens to reveal a very dark secret which is bound to tear the lovers apart. “This show brings people together by merging music and comedy with South African flavour.

Aunty Merle and her neighbour Suraya

Written by Marc Lottering and directed by Lara Foot, the musical comedy boasts a talented South African cast including Tracey-Lee Oliver as Abigail, Paul du Toit as Alan, Tankiso Mamabolo as Lydia and Loukmaan Adams as Denver Paulse, with the rest of the stellar cast including Royston Stoffels, Gina Shmukler, Adrian Galley, Carmen Maarman, Zandile Madliwa, Sizwesandile Mnisi, Anzio September, Crystal Finck and Tashreeq de Villiers – accompanied by a live 8-piece band.

Twenty-two original songs, with lyrics by Marc Lottering and Tarryn Lamb; musical direction by Alistair Izobel and choreography by Grant Van Ster, have earned the cast thunderous standing ovations. The show has received four Fleur du Cap nominations and has come off its third sell-out season in Cape Town. Aunty Merle sashays onto the stage at the Mandela at Joburg Theatre from 1 February to 3 March 2019 for a limited season run. The show is suitable for all ages (no under 3’s).You can secure your tickets through one of these platforms: visit www.joburgtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0861 670 670 as well as webtickets counters at Pick ‘n Pay outlets.