…..SoSuterBill…..

……BY BILLY SUTER……

HARD to believe seven years have zipped by since versatile actress Charon Williams-Ros left Durban, but the star of such KickstArt theatre company hits as Chicago, Cabaret, Beauty and the Beast and Stephen Sondheim’s stellar Sweeney Todd is soon to be back on stage in the city – and in another great Sondheim musical.

Charon emigrated from Durban to West Wales in 2017 for several reasons, the most pressing being family commitments. Home now is an old farmhouse she is renovating and which she shares with her husband – “who has a sensible job” – and their “nutty Cockerpoo X Dachshund”.

She still works with teachers who are using her online voice programme (Williams-Ros Contemporary Voice) which was launched with KZN’s Samantha Landers and Des Govender, and the standard of which is diligently monitored by Durban’s Melvin Peters. And she writes. A lot.

For the most part, however, she likes to see herself enjoying semi-retirement.

Her Welsh home is surrounded by farmlands with a view of the sea in the distance, and she loves walks along the beautiful Ceredigion coastline, as well as kayaking when the weather is good. The varied, rugged coastline means that at high tide there are quite a few beaches one can only reach by kayak – but then the beach is all hers, she says.

“Semi-retirement has its perks, but I have missed performing,” says Charon, who is excited about having been cast as the abrasive and cynical Joanne in Kickstart’s upcoming production of Sondheim’s Company, a sophisticated musical that has never before been presented in South Africa.

Directed by Steven Stead, it will run from April 9 to 21 at Durban’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Performances have been scheduled for 7pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, 2.30pm on Saturdays, and 4pm on Sundays.

Company is a mature, witty, intelligent musical about love and marriage in an urban environment. Featuring music and lyrics by Sondheim, it was one of the first concept musicals to become popular, and features such successful songs as The Ladies Who Lunch and Being Alive. 

The KickstArt production will be designed by Greg King and boast musical direction by Roland Perold, choreography by Simone Mann and lighting by Tina le Roux.

The show stars Bryan Hiles in the lead role of 39-year-old bachelor Robert, who gets a great deal of relationship advice from his circle of married friends, which often conflicts with what he observes in their behaviour.

Also in the cast is UK-based Jessica Sole – last seen in Durban as Guinevere in KickstArt’s Camelot. Others are Lyle Buxton, Peter Court, Anthony Downing, Roland Perold, Lisa Bobbert, Liesl Coppen, Anne-Marie Clulow and Yamikani Mahaka-Phiri. Robert’s three love interests are to be played by Roshanda Lewis, Keryn Scott and Leah Mari.

“Joanne is one of the ‘older’ friends of Robert: witty, contrary, opinionated and vulnerable,” says Charon. “It’s a great role. And there’s a kind of synergy in a group of friends reuniting to make a musical about a group of friends.”

What would she say to people to encourage them to see this musical in Durban?

“It’s a KickstArt production! It’s one of Sondheim’s best and most accessible musicals. The cast is a combination of old friends and new faces. It’s funny, sophisticated and moving. And the music is catchy! You’ll be singing the tunes on the way home.”

Charon was last on stage in Durban as prison warden Mama Morton in KickstArt’s 2017 production of Chicago and, shortly before emigrating, starred as Miss Hannigan in a Johannesburg production of Annie, for which she won a coveted Naledi award.

She is delighted to be returning to Durban, a city still firmly in her heart: “I’ve been back every year except 2021. I can’t stay away.”

She adds: “I miss the sunshine (it rains a lot in Wales) but mostly, the people. I miss their warmth and humour. And I definitely miss the talented youth and their advanced level of musicality.”

Rehearsals for Company start on March 16 and Charon is looking forward to being reunited with old friends and being directed by Steven Stead again: “I like knowing I am in safe hands because not only are KickstArt incredibly talented they care deeply about every aspect of the production. Steven’s ability to guide actors towards his vision with humour, intelligence, wisdom and kindness is what makes him a sought-after director.”

When Company’s run ends, Charon plans to “get a decent facial” and spend a week with family in the Northern Drakensberg. Then, it’s back to Wales to finish that house.

However, not only the renovations will keep her busy: “After yoga, and walking the dog, I’ll spend the mornings at my desk dealing with admin for the voice programme, but mostly I’ll write. I’ve been working on a series of screenplays, which is a longterm project.”

Charon is also promoting her theatre-themed book, Curtain Up, published by Nick Hern Books in London. It’s a handbook for drama teachers, or youth theatre practitioners, on how to stage the best youth productions, with advice from her and fellow Durban talents Steven Stead, Greg King, Peter Court, Shelley McLean, Janine Bennewith, Tina le Roux and Illa Thompson.

There’s more… she, along with Greg King and Tim Wells, has also released three children’s books introducing young children to the performing arts – the Howard and Thandi series.

Reflecting further on her stage career, Charon mentions conniving pie-maker Mrs Lovett, in KickstArt’s Sweeney Todd, as the character she has most enjoyed playing. Her favourite shows with Durban’s Kickstart, she says, are Cabaret and Sweeney Todd.

Any embarrassing or awkward moments on stage over the years?

“Too many! The usual trips and falls up and down stairs. Then there was one wardrobe malfunction where I had to face front for the entire scene as my back was bare. And once, in Sweeney Todd, instead of the line inviting the Beadle to my ‘meat shop on Fleet Street’, I invited him to my ‘flop shop on Meat Street’.

Three dream roles and with whom would Charon most love to perform them?

“Mama Rose in Gypsy (with Peter Court); Mame (with Lisa Bobbert) and anything else truthful and meaty, written for women of a certain age.”

Longterm plans?
“Sell the house! Then who knows? Professionally: perhaps something with actor/friend Tim Wells in Bath.”

Booking for Company is now open at WebTickets.