Die oorsprong, ontwikkeling en estetika van die intieme musiekspel, en Fees as 'n Afrikaanse voorbeeld
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
LitNet
Abstract
Hierdie artikel ondersoek die oorsprong, ontwikkeling en estetiese beginsels van die intieme musiekspel. Die artikel begin met ’n oorsig van die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks waarin musiekspelvervaardiging geskied, en die gevolgtrekking is dat die hoë produksiekoste dit vir (veral Afrikaanse) praktisyns besonder uitdagend maak om musiekspele te skep. Daar word ’n geskiedkundige oorsig gelewer oor die internasionale ontwikkeling van die intieme vorm deur die vroeë ontwikkelinge tussen 1918 en 1959 te bestudeer. Daarna word Tom Jones en Harvey Schmidt se 1960’s-era intieme musiekspele ondersoek, gevolg deur enkele intieme musiekspele na die 1970’s wat Company (1970 en 2006) en March of the falsettos (1990) insluit. Die artikel bou voort op Melodie Galloway (2010) se definisie van die intieme musiekspel deur die begrip as uitgangspunt te gebruik om dit dan binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks toe te pas. ’n Meer gedetailleerde omskrywing van die vorm se estetiese beginsels word in die artikel verskaf. Deur die oorkoepelende tekstuele kenmerke van familiedrama in ’n intieme musiekspel toe te pas, word geargumenteer dat sommige eienskappe van dié sosiale struktuur dikwels ’n nuttige bron vir dramatiese gebeure vir die intieme vorm kan wees. Die artikel eindig met ’n kritiese terugskouing op ’n Afrikaanse intieme musiekspel, Fees (2016), met teks en lirieke deur André Gerber en musiek deur David Wolfswinkel, wat as ’n Afrikaanse voorbeeld van die intieme vorm voorgehou word. Die artikelskrywers kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die intieme musiekspel ’n doeltreffende vorm kan wees om met verminderde produksiekoste ’n musiekspel op die planke te kan bring.
This article explores the origin, development and aesthetic principles of the intimate musical. The authors begin with an exploration of the context of musical production in South Africa and, through a close reading of an interview with producer Pieter Toerien, the article provides an overview of the contemporary challenges facing musical theatre producers. The first section focuses especially on the financial and artistic and aesthetic requirements of megamusicals – a popular form of theatrical entertainment both internationally and in South Africa. Toerien’s overview of the financial realities facing producers goes on to highlight the difficulties facing producers and practitioners of this form. The article then briefly explores an alternative aesthetic model called the “bonsai musical”, but finds that a new intimate form could be explored that corresponds to the financial realities facing contemporary producers and practitioners. This is especially critical for theatre makers in South Africa who frequently have to create work within a festival context with limited technical and financial resources. A historical overview of the development of the intimate musical is then presented.
This article explores the origin, development and aesthetic principles of the intimate musical. The authors begin with an exploration of the context of musical production in South Africa and, through a close reading of an interview with producer Pieter Toerien, the article provides an overview of the contemporary challenges facing musical theatre producers. The first section focuses especially on the financial and artistic and aesthetic requirements of megamusicals – a popular form of theatrical entertainment both internationally and in South Africa. Toerien’s overview of the financial realities facing producers goes on to highlight the difficulties facing producers and practitioners of this form. The article then briefly explores an alternative aesthetic model called the “bonsai musical”, but finds that a new intimate form could be explored that corresponds to the financial realities facing contemporary producers and practitioners. This is especially critical for theatre makers in South Africa who frequently have to create work within a festival context with limited technical and financial resources. A historical overview of the development of the intimate musical is then presented.
Description
CITATION: Gerber, A. & Du Preez, P. 2018. Die oorsprong, ontwikkeling en estetika van die intieme musiekspel, en Fees as 'n Afrikaanse voorbeeld. LitNet Akademies, 15(3):161-199.
The original publication is available at https://www.litnet.co.za
The original publication is available at https://www.litnet.co.za
Keywords
Theaters -- South Africa, Musicals -- Production and direction -- South Africa, Gerber, Andre -- Criticism and interpretation, Wolfswinkel, David -- Criticism and interpretation, Analysis of the intimate musical, Fees -- History and criticism
Citation
Gerber, A. & Du Preez, P. 2018. Die oorsprong, ontwikkeling en estetika van die intieme musiekspel, en Fees as 'n Afrikaanse voorbeeld. LitNet Akademies, 15(3):161-199.