Music, wit and more music awaits in Master Class at Theatre on the Bay this month
Back by popular demand at Theatre on the Bay for six shows only, Master Class promises to be a theatre delight like no other.
Set in New York in 1971, Maria Callas, the famous opera diva is portrayed giving master classes at a time when she had not sung in six years.
Callas is portrayed by the ever so talented, Sandra Prinsloo, who will dazzle the audience with her captivating performance.
In the play, Callas is seen working with three students, two sopranos and a tenor. Aside from her biting wit, she is often blunt and even harsh in her efforts to mentor and prepare the singers for the cut-throat world of operatic performance. The play’s riveting theatricality is truly ignited by Callas’ emotional outbursts and the soaring arias performed under her guidance.
Magdalene Minaar, the director of the show said she and the cast are honoured to have an artist at the calibre of Prinsloo on the show.
“Sandra is an iconic actress in South Africa and abroad. For our artists to be working with someone of her calibre is a wonderful experience,” she said.
Prinsloo who expressed optimism and excitement about portraying the iconic opera diva said: “What a wonderful play. It is not everyday one gets to play such a complex, but yet wonderful character. I am really looking forward to it,” she said.
José Dias, the musical director of the show said being back in rehearsals for Master Class has just revived all the joy within him.
“It is such a great text (written by the late Terrence McNally, that we found ourselves laughing and connecting with it all over again as if we hadn’t heard it hundreds of times before. Our wonderful singing actors from Cape Town Opera are at the top of their game - they are all quite young so, besides naturally growing into these roles with time, they are developing and maturing as opera singers through all the other work they do with the company over the years.
“Our audiences are in for an even bigger treat this time, and what can one say about Sandra Prinsloo as Maria Callas? she is the Queen. She is busy with so many incredible (and often intense) artistic projects at the same time, yet she goes at each of them with the energy and passion of a young actress, absolutely passionate about what she does and she savours all its nuances and possibilities as she does it. If there ever was a role model to follow with all my creative soul, it is her. Working on stage with Sandra Prinsloo has simply been one of the great privileges of my professional life, and I cannot wait for it to happen again and again and again,” he said.
Master Class is at Theatre on the Bay from September 26-30 2023 ,with tickets from R180 through 021438000/1 or Webtickets and at the Toyota US Woordfees (Quicket) from October 7-10. No under 13s are allowed.