Exploring life’s vertical climb at Montecasino

The theatre’s latest show, The Vertical Hour, on from 1 October to 9 November, tells the story of Nadia Blye, a war correspondent who has seen too much bloodshed in the Middle East. When she travels to Britain to meet her prospective father-in-law, she realises that she is on a journey of self-discovery – a vertical hour of her own.

Starring Michael Richard, Richard Gau, Jaco van Rensburg, Jackie Rens and Sinakho Zokuta, the play takes a deep look at war and the effect on various people.

The play was premiered on Broadway in late 2006 with Bill Nighy and Julianne Moore in Sam Mendes’ production which quickly went on to win much acclaim.

In the first South African production produced by Pieter Toerien, the play sees Nadia Blye, played by Rens, visiting Oliver Lucas, played by Richard, on a break from Yale University. She carries with her the burden of her experience as a war correspondent in the Balkans as well as a mixed bag of feelings about the war in Iraq which, in the initial stages, she had supported. She has travelled to Britain with Oliver’s son, Philip, played by Gau, a physical therapist who is scarred in a different way by his family background.

Nadia knows exactly what her stance is on Iraq. She is sure of her place in the world and her opinion of it until she meets Oliver. His intervention has far-reaching consequences for them all.

Details: 011 511 1818.