Dr Venter!

[Michael Alexander]

Another scan i thought might interest a few of you......it will be part of the next update next week...

[Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard)]

I wonder if anyone remembers Dr Venter's farewell assembly at school, we sang Dr Zhivago's "Somewhere my love". was his favourite song. I dont know why this sticks out in my mind. Yvette

[SandyB]

Yvette you  spring  chicken !  you were still at  OPS  ?.. Yes  " somewhere my  love "  or
  "Laras  theme " as  it  was called  ..  indeed a  beautiful  song ..   I  learnt to  play it  by  ear   on  the piano  .. despite  taking music  classes  I  was rebelious  and  wanted  to  do freeform  style my own  way .. looking  back  the classical  training  would  have  done  me  a  lot  of  good .. like  riding a  bicycle  you  will  never  forget  how .. Talking  about  the  school  I wonder  if  they  still  got  the  'Esty  Reed Organ"  in  the  school  hall
.. It was donated  to  the  school by the  dutch  reformed  church  across  the  road  .. they  had  progressed  to  the wonders  of  a  lousy lowrie  electronic  wonder ...   I  remember Mrs Barnard one of  the  music  teachers  .. when   it  came  to  singing " Die Stem "   she  would  climb  on  the  Esty  and  thrash  it   ...  I remember her  as  being  tall with  these  huge hands  and  huge  feet ..and  I  will tax  your memory  now  .. the  german music  teacher  who  was in  love with   Mr Kermis  .. what was her  name  again ??   I remember  the  one  time  she played  some  45 minute + long piano  concerto   from  memory  nogal  at  a  prize giving  function   held  in the  rec  club  main  hall ..  I heard  some  snorking  behind  me  halfway  through  the  rendition ..  looked   around  and  there  was  Mrs Delport ( they  used  to  stay across  the road  from  us  in second  avenue )  she  was  a  huge  woman .. there was she  fast asleep  and  slowly  falling  sideways onto  her  Husband   sitting  next to  her .. he  was  kind  of  half  the  size  and  valiantly  trying  to  prop  her  up  and  nudge her awake  at  the  same  time ..

[Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard)]

Hi Sandy,

Sh.t! cant remember the german music teacher's name, but I remember she was over the top.  I had piano lessons with an older person, I think she was afrikaans, hated her with a passion.  she used to Klap me on the hands when I forgot my scales.  Probably why I gave up piano and ~(my secret revealed) ...took to sneaking into the Catholic chapel to play Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel in between a few Ave Maria's.  I would get hold of Renee's "Teach yourself to play guitar" books.  Something like the "........ for Dummy's" series.  I would convert all the guitar chords to keyboard chords.  This was great fun! Loved the organ in church!  Father Keith was so funny, he would pretend he didnt hear me. Imagine?  Well, Sandy I guess I was a little weird, but I'm sure you will understand why.  Growing up with the likes of Juanita, Renee, Debby. Renee belting out Slade, Deep Purple and Uriah Heep from her little 2 speaker sony turntable in her bedroom. Nita stripping at the Golf club with Steph Turner!!!! Behind a screen, I was told! My Mom, Dad, Uncle Jerry and Aunty Julie Hoffman, partying up a storm to Neil Diamond's Hot August Night, I guess you could say I became a bit of an old soul.  And have always found myself more attached to the older bunch than those my own age.  No fault of mine!!  One other name that just popped up in my mind is Felix Niewoudt? He was sort of in charge of the Music Department at OPS.  Since we are on the subject of the arts, do you remember Oklahoma! was staged at the the Little Theatre.  Practically my whole family was in it. With Nina and Eddie Jones in lead roles and Renee trying to keep them sober during performances.  John Badendhorst directed the production.  What a mad cat he was.  Did you know he went on to become a director(?) at MNET. Regarding the Esty Reed Organ, Susan if you read this please check whether the organ is still there?! Sandy, Susan works at OPS. (nee Linekar).

Yvette

[SandyB]

Yvette  .. oklahoma !!  as  if  called ..  I  went  into  attic  yesterday afternoon ..   out  with  one  of  my  surviving  memory  boxes ..  very  smoke  damaged .. but  contents  intact ..  started scanning  programs  from  some  of  the  plays  I  saw ... Oklahoma  was one ..   I  have  scanned in quite a  few  programs ...  I  dont know  if you  have a  remaining  program ..if you  dont  here is one ..    hope  the  quality  is  Ok ..  enjoy !!

[SandyB]

The  rest  of  Oklahoma !!

[Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard)]

Sandy

you have made my day!!!!  Debby and Renee, check this out. The Marlowes were also in it. Those pics were taken on a road trip they did to promote the show. All the way to Beauvallon farm on the back of a horse drawn cart. We dont have a copy of that anymore, somewhere between moves it went missing.  Renee also made a tape but alas, thats gone too.  My Mom is going to love this.  THanks again.

Yvette

[SandyB]

Its  a  pleasure ..  John Badenhorst .. yes  In  CT  he did  a   lot  of  work  for  the  space  theatre    in  the  80's and indeed moved on  to M net ..  Felix  also good  memory ..a  fusspot  he stayed  3  units  away  from  my  Mom  in  CFC  comlex   .. talented  but  fussy  to  the  point  of  irritation ..   I  laugh  at you  metnioning  keeping the  Jones  sober  ..  both  good  talent  but  like   all  of us  had  an  achiles heel   somewhere..

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Finally i found something of Oklahoma.

I took part in it as Cord Elam and also went on the Beauvallon Trip

Hope some one has tape recordings of that

Here Oh what a lovely war clip with pics

http://www.livevideo.com/video/9C8940EE233147BEBC4BC84DDD1AD6A3/oh-what-a-lovely-war-and-the-r.aspx?lastvcid=76884

Here me at Beauvallon : Georg Ruf

[SandyB]

Ok George   please  explain  why if you  look  so  comfortable  in  the country  western  oufit   are  you  in Stuttgart ?  damm  good  picture ..

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Yepp

I am in Stuttgart, the pic however is at Beauvallon when we made the promotion tour.

I will look in my old pics, i have still slides from that day that Charles Löffler gave me.

Wait and see them......... Eddie Jones his wife, Karin Singer, John, Chris Lotte whou was the peddlar, sweet role he played, and of course Annie and many others.....

As you can see, i am still thinking a lot of those days, gone forewer   >:(

Georg Ruf Stuttgart Germany

[SandyB]

My  sense  of  humour ...  just  that you  look  so comfortable  in  the  role ...  if  you look  further  up  you  will  see  the  pics  from  the program   .. some  from beauvallon ..   Like you said  many  good  memories ..

[Paul Alexander]

George, a 12 string guitar as well... impressive stuff that

[Debby Opperman (Biccard)]

George was the 12 string for the photo shoot or for real?

Kidding, I remember you now. I was also in Oklahoma, part of the chorus along with my mom Marlene (worked at the dentist with Alistair Ewart) and my sister Renee. A fabulous memory that play was.

[Michael Alexander]

Thanks for the memory reminder Debby, Alistair Ewert had a dog called Purdy, a female alsation, the most loving and kindest and friendliest dog around, One day in the middle of the week, a bunch of us kids thought we would be clever and cycle down to the beach on our bikes. Off course as per normal , Purdy went with, she was one of the gang....., On the way back, a Volkswagen combi drove over her, I remember that image so clearly as if it was yesterday, it happened about 100m from the enterance to town.... That was one of the saddest days of mine in the 70's..  :'(

And George, when I saw the pic, I thought it looked very pro, it looks like one of those LP country covers....

good stuff!  :D